Practice making decisions!

It will take some time and lots of practice until you can make your own decisions regularly. This is all part of becoming more independent.

You will want to work with adults you trust to figure out which decisions you can make on your own and which decisions need some support.

It is never too early to start practicing making decisions in these areas:

• Managing money;
• Maintaining a home and living independently;
• Building a career you love that pays the bills;
• Organizing your own transportation;
• Having healthy relationships with your friends and family;
• Having healthy relationships with your romantic interests;
• Voting;
• Contributing to your community;
• Managing fitness and health;
• Setting your own goals; and
• Practicing self-advocacy and self-determination.
  

You can start with small decisions. Maybe the first decision under managing money is opening a bank account or saving up your allowance.

What is important is that you work with people you trust, take on more responsibilities, and practice making more and more of your own goals and choices.

For more information on rights about making your decisions, you can download our book Making My Own Decisions.

For help focusing on areas of your life where you can make decisions, you can order a booklet called It’s My Choice. You can download it for free from Minnesota Council on Developmental Disability.