About this course
This course equips Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) with the knowledge and strategies to support individuals and families in making informed, autonomous choices. Learners will explore the developmental nature of choice-making, recognize barriers, understand the roles of families and teams, and apply person-centered, ethical, and practical approaches to empower self-determination in diverse support settings.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Define informed choice and its role in promoting independence
- Describe how choice-making skills develop over time
- Differentiate universal, individual, and artificial limits to choice
- Identify and address barriers to choice, including learned helplessness and staff attitudes
- Explain the roles of families and support teams in facilitating choice
- Demonstrate person-centered approaches to supporting choice
- Balance risk, safety, and empowerment when supporting choices