Chapter 1- Introduction

Now, think about the complexity of those decisions and ask yourself:

Were they big, complex decisions with significant impact or small, straight forward decisions?

• All small and simple with little impact
• All small but complex with big impact
• All big but simple with little impact
• All big and complex with lots of impact
• A combination of these

Now, think about the people who influenced your decisions and ask yourself:

Who influenced those decisions?

• Family
• Friends
• Work colleagues
• Paid carers
• Professionals
• A combination of these
  

Think of the concerns you had when making the decisions.

What influenced those decisions?

• Finances
• Health
• Consequences for people around you
• Legal concerns
• Social concerns
• A combination of these

Lastly, think about how you would feel if someone made those decisions for you.

What would it have been like if someone else made those decisions on your behalf?

• Easier, as I would prefer not to think about it
• Difficult, as I like to have control over my own life

Making decisions is empowering and shapes who we are. We all have differing skill in making decisions and have learned how to make decisions over time and by experience. Sometimes we make decisions on our own and at other times we involve others for advice or support.

But, not everyone gets the chance to make their own decisions, particularly people with a disability, who are sometimes presumed not to be capable of making their own decisions. Such assumptions are a breach of their human rights.

Note: The choices are examples only and not exhaustive lists.