Webinar on Model Legislation for Supported Decision Making

Wednesday, August 6th

3:00pm EST

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is excited to announce an upcoming webinar on our recently released model legislation for supported decision making in healthcare contexts.

Often, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are placed under guardianship - and thus lose the right to make their own choices about their lives - based on their need for support when making health care decisions. Doctors and service workers may tell families to seek guardianship because they think it is the only way to make sure that people with disabilities get the support or advice they may need in order to get the health care they need. Sometimes, doctors may even refuse to treat a person with an intellectual or developmental disability who doesn't have a guardian, due to a belief that people with disabilities cannot give "informed consent" to health care.

The model legislation, which ASAN developed in collaboration with the Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities, would enable people with intellectual or developmental disabilities to name a trusted person to help communicate with doctors, understand health care information, make informed decisions about health care, and/or carry out daily health-related activities. Unlike guardianship, supported decision-making arrangements let people with disabilities keep the ability to make their own decisions. Advocates can use this model legislation and ASAN's Questions and Answers resource when talking to their state legislators about ways to support people make independent health care decisions.

In this webinar, ASAN's Director of Public Policy Samantha Crane will lead an in-depth discussion on the model legislation, providing additional explanation and analysis, answering common questions, and explaining how advocates can use this model legislation in their advocacy at a state level.

Those interested in participating in the webinar are encouraged to register as soon as possible, as the webinar is open to a limited number of participants.