People from Rise’s New Richmond and Oakdale Life Enrichment programs come together each Friday to learn how to be stronger advocates for their needs through Supported Decision-Making (SDM) classes. The sessions help them explore their individuality, discover their voices, and learn self-advocacy through open discussions and engaging activities.

For Kristian Hansen, who attends Rise New Richmond, the experience has been eye-opening.  “The goal of these classes is to help you become independent, grow as a person, and understand who you are,” he explains. “It’s about recognizing your struggles and having people there to help you succeed.”

Supported Decision-Making is about making choices with support, alongside trusted people who guide the process. The classes, led by Betty Dewitt from Advocating Change Together (ACT) and co-facilitator Rochelle Laumer, were developed through an Opportunity Grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The curriculum focuses on person-centered thinking, teaching participants how to advocate for themselves and become their own person.

“It’s really about having positive control in your life – making decisions with support that lead to your best life,” Dewitt says.

Learning Through Interactive Activities

The sessions are interactive and engaging by design. People work through activities and worksheets that explore questions like: What’s important to me? And who are the people I trust? They also discuss respect, self-determination, and social skills.
Laumer explains, “We keep it fun with icebreakers, discussions, and projects that help people discover, ‘This is my life, this is what I want, and it’s my choice.’”

One of the most meaningful parts of the class is when participants reflect on what they appreciate about themselves. These moments of self-recognition help build confidence and remind people of their strengths. Kristian’s response to the prompt was, “I am a friendly person.”

Others echoed similar sentiments:
John Hollerbach: “What I admire about myself is that I care for others.”
Kevin Rickey: “I’m happy and positive. I’m good at bowling, football, math, and singing.”
Carol Smith: “I have a good relationship with my roommate, and I am good at making friends when I’m at Rise.”
John Carufel: “I’m friendly and have a good hat collection.”
Andy Brelje: “I’m good at throwing things into the garbage can and making it every time. I’m a good friend and love my family.”
These reflections show that the class is about recognizing personal value and building self-esteem.

The Bigger Impact

Both Laumer and Dewitt have watched as people being thinking more about opportunities to live independently and get more involved in the community and say SDM graduates often look for more person-centered opportunities after the classes are over.

“Self-advocacy should be a priority for everyone,” said Dewitt. “It helps people feel confident and good about themselves when they speak up.”

Kristian agrees and encourages others to try it: “I think it would be great for anyone at Rise who wants to be more independent and learn about themselves. You have to put in the effort, but it’s worth it.”