Legal capacity and supported decision making

For World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) 2023, the Down Syndrome International network is campaigning for the right to legal capacity, supported decision-making and easy-to-understand communication.

Legal capacity and supported decision-making.

This video explains, in simple terms, what legal capacity is and the importance of supported decision-making:

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) says that people with disabilities have the right to:

“Enjoy legal capacity on an equal basis with others in all aspects of life” and should have access to “the support they may require in exercising their legal capacity.”

Legal capacity means that the law recognises you as a person with rights. It means that everyone can make decisions about important things in their lives.

Legal capacity is needed for other rights, such as:

The right to choose where and who you live with.
The right to make decisions about your healthcare.
The right to get married and have a family.
The right to control your own money and own property.

But many people with Down syndrome around the world are denied legal capacity. Legal arrangements like guardianship stop people from making their own decisions. Or people don’t have proper support to make decisions for themselves.

All governments must make sure that:

People with Down syndrome can make decisions about their lives with appropriate support.
Safeguards to prevent abuse are proportional, time-limited and subject to regular review.

We have produced an easy-to-understand guide to the campaign which you can read here:

legal capacity and supported decision-making guide

Our right to easy-to-understand communication.

Easy-to-understand communication is communication that is accessible and in easy-to-understand language.

Using easy-to-understand communication means more people can understand and take part.

We have written an introduction to easy-to-understand communication to explain this in more details:

INTRODUCTION

In December 2022, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution promoting and mainstreaming easy-to-understand communication for accessibility for persons with disabilities.

You can read a plain-language version of the resolution here:

Plain-language resolution

For World Down Syndrome Day 2023, self-advocates with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities from around the world will gather in Geneva to discuss the resolution and speak up for their right to easy-to-understand communication.

Find out more and watch the event live:

WDSD Geneva 2023

Ambassadors view.

We asked our team of Ambassadors questions about legal capacity and supported decision-making:

1. What do people assume you can't make decisions about?

2. What decisions are important to you?

3. How do you like to be supported to make a decision?

Show your support for our WDSD campaign by sharing your message on social media using #WithUsNotForUs

12th World Down Syndrome Day Conference

Join us on WDSD (21 March 2023) when we will be live from the United Nations in New York, discussing the right to legal capacity, supported decision-making and easy-to-understand communication.

People with Down syndrome and disabilities, supporters and advocates, government and UN officials and NGO representatives will be sharing knowledge, experience and good practice from countries around the world.

Find out more:

WDSD Conference

Speak up with us.

We need your help to speak up for the rights, inclusion and well-being of people with Down syndrome.

Join our World Down Syndrome Advocate team to learn how you can support us: