In 2019, Washington State formally recognized supported decision-making as an alternative to guardianship, allowing individuals with disabilities to receive help in making decisions without giving up their legal rights. Supported decision-making agreements enable people to choose trusted supporters—such as family members, friends, or advocates—to assist with understanding information, weighing options, and communicating decisions. The approach reflects a shift away from traditional models that rely on transferring decision-making authority to a guardian, and instead emphasizes autonomy, choice, and self-determination.

The recognition of supported decision-making responded to long-standing concerns about the impact of guardianship, which can limit a person’s legal rights over areas such as finances, healthcare, and daily life decisions. Advocacy organizations, including Disability Rights Washington, have highlighted the importance of less restrictive alternatives that preserve individual control while still providing needed support. At the same time, supported decision-making is not a universal solution and depends on the availability of trusted relationships and appropriate safeguards. Its growing use reflects a broader change in how systems understand capacity—not as something a person either has or does not have, but as something that can be supported.