Supported Decision-Making: Protecting Rights, Ensuring Choices Presented by Jonathan Martinis

Study after study has shown that when older adults and people with disabilities have more control over their life and make more decisions for themselves - when they have more self-determination - they have better lives. For example, studies show that people who are more self-determined are more likely to live independently, work, be active in their communities, and avoid abuse. However, research also shows that when people are ordered into guardianships or conservatorships that are unnecessary or remove more rights than are necessary, they may suffer significant negative impacts to their physical and mental health.
This session will introduce the audience to Supported Decision-Making (SDM) as an alternative to guardianship and conservatorship and a way to enhance the self-determination and quality of life of older adults and people with disabilities. When people use SDM, they work with friends, family, and professionals so they can understand their choices and make their own decisions without the need for a guardian or conservator.
Using real world examples, this presentation will discuss how people can use SDM to be more self-determined, have better life outcomes, and avoid overbroad and undue guardianship and conservatorship.
Jonathan Martinis is the Senior Director for Law and Policy for the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, leading its efforts to ensure that older adults and people with disabilities have access to the services and supports they need to lead independent, inclusive lives.
In 2013, Jonathan represented Margaret “Jenny” Hatch in the “Justice for Jenny” case - the first trial to hold that a person has the right to use Supported Decision-Making to make her own life choices instead of being subjected to a permanent, plenary guardianship. Since then, Jonathan has led SDM projects in New York, Nebraska, Ohio, California, Virginia, Vermont, Missouri, and Kansas. He has also educated and trained tens of thousands of older adults, people with disabilities, families, and professionals across the country on SDM theory and practice. Jonathan has written or co-written over 60 publications on SDM, including the first textbook and first theory-to-practice guidebook on the subject.