What Supported Decision-Making Actually Means
Supported decision-making (SDM) is an alternative to guardianship. It lets an adult with a disability choose a trusted person to help with everyday decisions. This includes choices about where to live, what health care to get, and where to work.
The key point: the adult stays in control. The supporter helps gather facts and explain options, but the adult makes the final call.
"Supported decision-making" means a process of supporting and accommodating an adult to enable the adult to make life decisions, including decisions related to where the adult wants to live, the services, support and medical care the adult wants to receive, whom the adult wants to live with and where the adult wants to work, without impeding the adult's self-determination.
A.R.S. § 14-5721(5)This process keeps decision-making power with adults who may need help with complex information. As a result, the adult stays independent while still getting hands-on help from someone they trust.
Who Qualifies and What the Terms Mean
The statute defines an "adult" as someone at least eighteen years old with a disability. This covers people with developmental disabilities and other conditions that limit one or more major life activities. When a young person turns 18, this option becomes available instead of guardianship.
"Intimidate" includes threatening to deprive an adult of food, nutrition, shelter or necessary medication or medical treatment.
A.R.S. § 14-5721(4)The specific "intimidate" definition shows a focus on protecting adults from coercion. Any supporter who uses threats to control the adult's decisions faces criminal prosecution and civil penalties.
A "supporter" must be at least eighteen and enters a formal, written agreement with the adult. Family members often fill this role.
An "interested person" is anyone concerned with the welfare of the adult who signed a supported decision-making agreement. This creates a broader layer of oversight beyond the supporter alone.