Lloyd LeFurgey, a member of People First P.E.I., holds up a copy of his supported decision-making agreement. - Logan MacLeanCHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — When Joni Miner volunteered at the Special Olympics several years ago, she spotted someone in need – an athlete with one of the teams. Miner saw he was upset, having a tough time communicating with the coaches.
Miner, co-president of P.E.I. People First, joined three of her colleagues by video call to speak to the committee about a draft bill on supported decision-making that will come before the P.E.I. legislature this fall. Lloyd LeFurgey, a member of People First who spoke in person before the committee, said the capacity requirement is essentially a test to determine if someone has the mental ability to keep their rights and autonomy.Supported decision-making is an agreement that allows an individual to choose a group of trusted advisors to help make important decisions.While supported decision-making often applies to vulnerable people, such as adults with disabilities, anyone can benefit from the arrangement.
“That’s why capacity shouldn’t be used when dealing with anything with supported decision-making agreements – everybody knows what they want, what’s important to them and who they trust. Most people can show that, just not always by speaking or writing or maybe verbally.”Gallant appeared before the committee“If you’re not the one making the decisions, you can feel kind of rotten and small,” he said on Sept. 14.
Lefurgey explained, for example, the number of advisers he first chose was simply the number of close friends he trusted and wanted to help him.