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Manhattan Transition Committee Meeting
December 13, 2023 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Manhattan Transition Committee Meeting:
Supported Decision-Making as an Alternative to Guardianship
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/94585070116
Meeting ID: 945 8507 0116
One tap mobile: +16469313860,,94585070116#
Family members often believe that obtaining guardianship is the appropriate step for a loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD) in order to protect the individual and remain involved in that person’s life. In reality, guardianship takes away the person’s rights to make all the decisions in their lives. Supported decision-making (SDM) is a well-recognized alternative, enabling persons with I/DD to make their own decisions with the support of trusted persons in their lives. Now that the New York State Legislature has passed a bill recognizing SDM, people with I/DD who go through an SDMNY facilitation process and develop Supported Decision-Making Agreements will be protected from discrimination based on their disability.
Supported Decision-Making New York (SDMNY) began asa 6-year project funded by DDPC, to pilot the use of SDM to divert persons at risk of guardianship, and to restore rights to persons already subject to guardianship. Now under a grant with OPWDD, SDMNY has designed a model for delivering SDM facilitation services state-wide.
This presentation with SDMNY Associate Director Joan Cornachio, and Jenna Lamm, SDMNY Transition Specialist, will explain how the SDMNY facilitation process works with people with I/DD, to develop Supported Decision-Making Agreements (SDMAs) that may be used as a more empowering alternative to guardianship. They will also discuss the new SDMA law and its positive impact on building more inclusive, self-determined lives.
A Q&A session will follow the presentation.
For a preview of the work of SDMNY, please check out these short videos:
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us:
David Summers, AHRC NYC, david.summers@ahrcnyc.org
Andrew Harris, P138M, aharris27@schools.nyc.gov