Empowering People With Disabilities to Make Their Own Health Care Decisions

People with disabilities sometimes need help understanding medical information. That does not mean they need a guardian to make decisions for them. People with disabilities can make their own decisions with support. They can ask for help from family members, friends, and other trusted persons (called “Supporters”).

The Arc’s new tool, A Letter for My Doctors, helps people with disabilities describe how and when they want help making health care decisions.

The letter can be used to explain:

  • How the person acts when he/she is upset, worried, or confused
  • What a health care provider can do if the person is upset, worried, or confused
  • When the person wants help making health care decisions
  • Who the person wants to help them make health care decisions

Can you or someone you know benefit from this new tool?