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Resources and templates: DBHDS and local advocates to produce condensed SDM forms and guides
Summary
Presenters said DBHDS and advocacy groups have created SDM templates, discovery tools and pocket cards; a condensed SDM agreement and tip sheet for families are planned, and local pilots in Arlington will help refine court-facing materials.
Sarah Thompson and Lucy Beatnell listed concrete resources available to families and providers: a DBHDS SDM agreement template, discovery worksheets ("when do I want support," relationship maps), plain-language guides, HIPAA release forms, tracking tools for agreement distribution, and wallet-sized pocket cards to help a person advocate when their rights are not being honored.
Thompson said the DBHDS work group (which includes self-advocates) is testing a condensed agreement to make the materials more accessible and hopes to release that version in late winter or early spring 2026. Lucy described ongoing work with an Arlington family using the informal court communication pathway and said organizers plan to convert lessons from that case into tip sheets and a toolkit to help other families navigate the process without necessarily hiring an attorney.
Presenters encouraged families to: use discovery tools to identify supports and the kinds of assistance needed; attach the specific legal instruments (HIPAA releases, special education powers of attorney) to make day-to-day interactions smoother; and provide only the portions of an SDM agreement that are relevant to the institution they're dealing with (education vs. medical).
