Making decisions is not just about our skills. It is essential to take a close look at the amount and variety of opportunities being presented to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Always ask, “Are these the same possibilities available to people without disabilities?” The system is eager to measure our capacity. We recommend focusing on assessing the ability of teachers and support staff to be effective communicators and providers of reasonable accommodations. A person’s capacity to teach as well as learn is fluid and changes all the time. Whether or not we have disabilities, we learn from our mistakes and become more and more competent through our life experiences along the way.
Supporting us to state our desires works in our best interest and leads to getting what we need. We hope you understand that when our supports are strong, we are able to work toward our life’s goals.
