Back to All Events

Supported Decision Making and Individuals with Disabilities – Breaking Through

Supported Decision Making (SDM) encourages persons with disabilities to make their own decisions to whatever extent they can, provided that they have the support to do so.  Now law in many states, SDM represents a huge breakthrough for people living with disabilities, as it does not take away their rights of self-determination; rather, it allows them to appoint a supported decision maker (in some states, even if they are under guardianship).  This paradigm shift brings with it the element of risk if all the components are not addressed for individuals, parents and caregivers.  In this  webinar, Elville and Associates’ Managing Principal and Lead Attorney Stephen Elville will explore SDM and the elements of challenges and solutions. This webinar focuses on SDM and alternatives to guardianship and potential guardianship supplements, and how SDM has the potential to affect and change so many lives, including those of family members and other supporters.

Learning objectives include:

  • Legal aspects of SDM-definitions, purpose, current status, issues

  • What SDM is not-relationship to powers of attorney, advance medical directives, and guardianship

  • SDM process and benefits

To learn more about Elville and Associates, you can visit its website.

 

Presenter

Stephen R. Elville, Esq., works with individuals and families to provide a unique attorney-client experience and peace of mind solutions to the challenges they face with estate, asset protection, and tax planning issues, and with disability and long-term care planning issues. He has extensive experience in working with clients involved in crisis situations and routinely handles client issues in the following areas:  wills, trusts, estate tax planning, powers of attorney, living wills/advance medical directives, Medicaid asset protection trusts, Medicaid planning and qualification, estate administration, fiduciary representation, nursing home selection, guardianships, special needs planning for children and adults, Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and IRS tax controversy.  Mr. Elville was named to the Maryland Super Lawyers list in 2015 and each year from 2017 through 2023 and is a member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), Elder Counsel, Wealth Counsel, the Academy of Special Needs Planners, and the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys. He is the past Chair of the Howard County Bar Association Estates & Trusts and Elder Law Sections and is the past President of the Coalition of Geriatric Services (COGS). Mr. Elville currently serves as Chair of the Elder Law and Disability Rights Section Council of the Maryland State Bar Association and is a member of the Charitable Gift Planning Advisory Committee for Anne Arundel Medical Center (CGPAC). He also serves as Chair for Law Day Maryland.

View Webinar Recording

Certificate of Attendance Evaluation

Certificate of Attendance (Until May 2026) —
Free for Members/$15 for Non-Members

Social Work CEs (Until May 2026) -
$10 for Members/$15 for Non-Members

Supporting Materials:

Slide Deck

Webinar Chat Transcript

Previous
Previous
May 17

Brain Injury, Overdose and Harm Reduction

Next
Next
October 4

Intimate Partner Violence and Brain Injury: A Panel Discussion