Informed Choice Like all of us, individuals with disabilities have the right to make choices over where they work and how they spend their days. However, people with disabilities too often have limited experiences on which to base choices. Informed choice is what we call the process of choosing from options based on accurate information, knowledge, and experiences. Core principles include: Everyone is capable of making choices, regardless of their limitations, and needs opportunity, experience, and support to do so. Choice means selecting among available options, and clearly defining what those options are. Choices have consequences and it is important to clearly understand what those consequences are. Choices are made within the overall context of cultural and societal expectations and some choices are viewed as more acceptable and more positive than others. Informed choice occurs when a person, with or without reasonable accommodations, understands all the options available to them, including the benefits and risks of their decisions. The process of informed choice doesn’t have an end and doesn’t just occur onetime. Informed choice is part of an ongoing process of engaging people in person-centered conversations about their goals. Informed choice is central to our plan to promote and expand CIE opportunities for individuals with I/DD: Individuals, families, caregivers and guardians will be engaged regularly in conversations about employment goals and options. Information on all available options will be provided in a way that is easily understood and will include benefits, risks, and steps to move forward, if desired. Informed choice process will include an opportunity to visit and observe people working in CIE and to talk with them about their experience. Choices are respected and individuals will not be forced to do something that they don’t want to do. DHHS will ensure informed choice through written policies and procedures, standardized assessment and career planning tools, provider competencies, training and technical assistance, and ongoing monitoring. Additional Information Strategic Plan to Promote and Expand CIE for Individuals with I/DD (PDF) Informed Choice and Employment: Overview (Tools for Community Inclusion PDF)
Informed Choice Like all of us, individuals with disabilities have the right to make choices over where they work and how they spend their days. However, people with disabilities too often have limited experiences on which to base choices. Informed choice is what we call the process of choosing from options based on accurate information, knowledge, and experiences. Core principles include: Everyone is capable of making choices, regardless of their limitations, and needs opportunity, experience, and support to do so. Choice means selecting among available options, and clearly defining what those options are. Choices have consequences and it is important to clearly understand what those consequences are. Choices are made within the overall context of cultural and societal expectations and some choices are viewed as more acceptable and more positive than others. Informed choice occurs when a person, with or without reasonable accommodations, understands all the options available to them, including the benefits and risks of their decisions. The process of informed choice doesn’t have an end and doesn’t just occur onetime. Informed choice is part of an ongoing process of engaging people in person-centered conversations about their goals. Informed choice is central to our plan to promote and expand CIE opportunities for individuals with I/DD: Individuals, families, caregivers and guardians will be engaged regularly in conversations about employment goals and options. Information on all available options will be provided in a way that is easily understood and will include benefits, risks, and steps to move forward, if desired. Informed choice process will include an opportunity to visit and observe people working in CIE and to talk with them about their experience. Choices are respected and individuals will not be forced to do something that they don’t want to do. DHHS will ensure informed choice through written policies and procedures, standardized assessment and career planning tools, provider competencies, training and technical assistance, and ongoing monitoring. Additional Information Strategic Plan to Promote and Expand CIE for Individuals with I/DD (PDF) Informed Choice and Employment: Overview (Tools for Community Inclusion PDF)
