As human beings, we want to feel in control of our own lives. We want to have a say in the decisions that affect us, to feel listened to, and to know that our views matter.
When decisions are made for us rather than with us, that sense of control can quickly fade. Being told what will happen, without meaningful involvement on our part, can feel disempowering and isolating. Over time, this can leave us feeling disconnected from our own lives.
For the individuals we work with, particularly those with support needs, this risk may be even greater.
Agency and autonomy become even more important when someone cannot easily advocate for themselves without support. This may be due to communication differences, cognitive needs, trauma, differing capacity, or other support needs.
For example, an individual who uses augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) or who has other communication needs may rely on others to help them express their thoughts, preferences and wishes. If we do not actively and intentionally provide that support, their voice can be missed.
In these situations, assumptions can sometimes be made on their behalf. These assumptions may be well intentioned, but they can risk replacing someone’s authentic voice with our own subjective interpretation.
When appropriate communication supports are not put in place, we are not being neutral; we are shaping whose voice is heard and how. Over time, this can lead to people being spoken for, rather than spoken with.
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