Supported Decision- Making in Action: Designing Your Own Transition Plan Jonathan Martinis Senior Director for Law and Policy The Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University Co-Project Director, National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making

EVERYONE has the Same Goal We ALL want “a foundation that will foster a lifetime of opportunity and happiness.” “Many of the means to achieving those outcomes are the same: enrollment in post-secondary education, vocational training programs, experiencing work, and developing social networks that foster long-term meaningful relationships and opportunity for continued growth.” - Gustin, 2015 National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making EVERYONE has the Right to Make Choices

A Critical Difference For People With Disabilities: “Figuring out who the different service provider representatives are and what their roles are can take on a life of its own that often overwhelms families, mostly because the different service systems are not always clear on what their roles are or get into territorial role definitions that impact forward progress and planning.” - Gustin, 2015 National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making EVERYONE has the Right to Make Choices

The Solution: A Culture of Coordinated Support “We must create cultural change by moving away from separation and silos. Instead, individuals, families, and providers must work together to empower people with disabilities to live independent, productive, and community-included lives. We call this a Culture of Coordinated Support.” - Gustin & Martinis, 2016

In a Culture of Coordinated Support People and Agencies: Plan and coordinate their work “so that each knows what the others are doing and will do” Ensure that the person’s various support plans support plans describe how “each agency and provider will work with the others to help the person achieve his or her goals.” Gustin & Martinis 2016

How? Supported Decision-Making State-wide, cross-program use of Supported Decision-Making is the key to creating a Culture of Coordinated Support. Creates a “common tongue” for working with the person and coordinating plans and efforts Ensures the person is at the center of the plans Ensures that the agencies meet their obligations

Bringing It Together: A Coordinated Support Plan The Coordinated Support Plan brings together and coordinates the person’s IEP IPE ISP Other Support Plans and Plans of Care So, plans and providers work together, more effectively and efficiently Gustin & Martinis, 2016 i

Coordinated Support Strategy Think. Listen. Listen Again Identify Goals WHAT do I want? Recognize Opportunities WHAT do I need to get there? Spotlight on Strengths, Challenges, and Allies WHAT can I do? WHO can help me? WHAT’S in my way? Coordinate Strengths and Allies HOW will we work together? Address Challenges HOW will we get past the roadblocks? Make it Happen WHEN do we start? HOW OFTEN will we review?

Creating A Coordinated Support Plan Review! Go through each area of your life. Example: Financial, Medical, Social, Employment Brainstorm! Does you need some help in those areas? If so, talk about what support could help, who could provide it, and how National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making EVERYONE has the Right to Make Choices

Writing Coordinated Support Plans Write! plans addressing areas where you want support WHAT is my goal? WHAT do I need to get there? WHAT is stopping me from getting there? WHO can help me get there and HOW? HOW will we all work together? WHEN will we start and HOW OFTEN will we review? National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making EVERYONE has the Right to Make Choices

Implementing A Coordinated Support Plan Make it a Part! The Coordinated Support Plan brings together and coordinates other plans: IEP IPE ISA Other Plans of Care So, include coordination in the plans or attach a separate plan to each, to guide implementation and ensure coordination i National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making EVERYONE has the Right to Make Choices

YOUR TURN Write Coordinated Support Plans for Education WHAT do I want to learn to do? Employment WHAT do I want to do for a living? Financial HOW do I want to manage my money? Health Care HOW do I want to manage my health? Social WHAT do I want to do in my spare time? ANYTHING ELSE National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making EVERYONE has the Right to Make Choices

Join the Conversation National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making: SupportedDecisionMaking.Org The Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University: BBI.Syr.Edu Jonathan Martinis, Senior Director for Law and Policy: JGMartin@Law.Syr.Edu National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making EVERYONE has the Right to Make Choices

About this Project This project was supported, in part by grant number HHS-2014-ACL-AIDD-DM-0084, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy. National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making EVERYONE has the Right to Make Choices