Posted on February 23, 2026

By Lucy Klym, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist & Rebecca Kasey, CQL Director of Personal Outcome Measures®

Human services organizations continue to struggle with supporting the ‘Dignity of Risk’ for people with disabilities, oftentimes resorting to a parental or authoritative role. Dignity of Risk addresses that people with disabilities should be given the dignity of making choices that involve risks, just like others. Risk is inherent in every decision that is made, from leaving one’s home, to driving a car, to interacting with others. All decisions carry risk. 

In this Capstone, we begin with a story about promoting dignity of risk for Jill, a person who receives services. Then, we provide perspectives and tips from CQL staff on how human service organizations can promote ‘dignity of risk’ in their supports. 

Dreams are the Compass for Dignity of Risk

By Lucy Klym, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

‘Dignity of risk’ recognizes that growth happens when people are trusted to try, to choose, and to dream. Supporting someone to pursue their goals, strengthen their connections, and build confidence means believing their dreams are possible. Jill’s story is a powerful example of how personalized support – when built around thoughtful steps – can make the risk worth the reward, just as Cinderella’s story reminds us that believing in a dream is the first step toward making it real.

Jill believed deeply in dreams. Her favorite movie was Disney’s Cinderella, and throughout her life, her supports shifted as her independence grew. She moved from needing 24‑hour staffing to only needing limited evening and weekend support. This gave her the space to rest, connect with family and friends, and continue developing her confidence. Each reduction in support was a step toward more ‘dignity of risk.’

One of Jill’s biggest dreams was to visit Disney World to see Cinderella’s Castle, and she wanted to fly there on her own. Her growing confidence helped Jill and her team believe she could do it. Although she had traveled for self‑advocacy conferences, she had never flown alone. Her team was nervous, and Jill was anxious too, but her determination outweighed her nerves. If she had a ticket in hand, she felt ready to go.

Supporting Jill’s ‘dignity of risk’ meant breaking the journey into steps that empowered her. She saved for the trip, visited the local airport to get comfortable with the environment, practiced navigating crowds, and rehearsed the check‑in and security process. Each step gave her more control and more confidence.

When the day came, Jill felt ready. Her staff supported her through security and to the gate, and a close friend waited for her on the other side. Those early steps made room for growth. Because of them, Jill didn’t just see Cinderella’s Castle once, she returned again proving that dreams really can provide the compass to support. Over time, Jill gained even more skills, eventually checking in on her own and meeting her close friend at baggage claim.

Dignity of Risk: Perspectives from CQL Staff

We asked CQL staff to share their perspectives and tips for service providers on how best to support ‘dignity of risk’ for people with disabilities. Several staff shared tips on general support and on specific areas across the five Personal Outcome Measures® factors of My Human Security, My Community, My Relationships, My Choices, and My Goals. 

Promoting Dignity of Risk in Services

Katherine Dunbar, CQL Vice President of Services and Systems Excellence 

In all parts of life, we should consider reasonable risks. In our field, we tend to jump to worst case scenario. I think taking out “what could happen” and focusing on what is “reasonably likely” to happen would allay a lot of fears. Also, making sure that our expectations of people with disabilities align with expectations of people without disabilities would also support people in taking risks. We all make mistakes. The overwhelming majority of those mistakes cause no harm to self or others. Keeping this in the forefront of our minds while supporting people is key.

Nikki Anderson, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

We need to separate “staff discomfort” from “actual risk.” Sometimes what is labeled as “risk” is actually staff discomfort or fear of liability. Teams should pause to distinguish between genuine health or safety concerns and personal or organizational anxiety. This helps prevent unnecessary restrictions and promotes more balanced decision-making.

Kendra Julius, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist 

It is very common for people to have too much support, which hinders learning and future decision-making skill development. The best thing to do is to figure out if people have the Three E’s: Education, Experience, and Exposure that they need to make informed decisions about whatever topic – give them information they are lacking in the area, determine what the person’s tolerance is (i.e., what risks do they want to avoid and what are they comfortable risking), and allow space for exploration. This doesn’t mean stepping back and letting people have awful outcomes, nor does it mean creating a safety net that always prevents natural consequences. Rather, it means providing individualized support to the areas where the person is wanting to practice decision making. 

Jen Steurer, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

I think the most important thing is to be more understanding about failure. We all have setbacks, we all learn from our mistakes. It’s a natural part of the learning process. It’s important to empathize with setbacks and provide support to keep going, to try something new, and not to give up. We all need to be surrounded by psychological safety so we can try new things and have support and encouragement, even if we aren’t successful.

Promoting Dignity of Risk in Areas of Security

Susan Carr, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

My daughter has a dog walking business. She has low vision and wanted to independently walk down the street to take care of one of her ‘dog jobs.’ I was not comfortable with that because she ‘drifts’ when walking and ends up in the middle of the road sometimes. After discussions, we compromised and she wears a bright yellow vest and independently takes care of the dogs down the street. It makes me nervous, but it gives her a tremendous amount of pride and independence to do her job on her own.

Leanne Fenez, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

Start with what matters to the person, not what worries the system. It’s important to separate risk to the person from risk to the organization. We need to manage organizational risk through good systems, not by shrinking people’s lives. If the primary concern is liability, reputation, or audit findings, be honest about that and don’t disguise it as concern for the person’s wellbeing. Ethical support requires clarity about whose risk is actually being managed. 

Kendra Julius, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist 

A key area to focus on with Dignity of Risk is in regard to people’s money. One of the best things we can do is evaluate who has control over a person’s money and why, and how we can shift that control to the person. Most people have made a financial decision that was not ideal. Providing people education and control over their money is invaluable toward people gaining independence and autonomy in many areas of their lives. We can choose to consider risks as an inherent part of independence and shift our culture from protection and control around money to one where we educate and support people to manage their acceptable level of risk around money.

Kim O’Neal, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

Ensure that people have been provided with the same range of the Three E’s: Education, Experience, and Exposure to make calculated risks. Safety can still be promoted and provided to people in areas they enjoy, while also ensuring the person has dignity to take reasonable risks. For people who like to use their cell phone or computer for social media, service providers can ensure they have adequately educated people on risks, warning signs and suspicious behavior, and private information. 

Promoting Dignity of Risk in Areas of Community

Susan Carr, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

People have to be in the community as a participant in the life in that community, not just as a random stranger passing through. Do not ask permission for people to participate. If someone wants to attend a community painting session, support them in scheduling participation. People should be free to participate in events of their choosing, not just disability specific events.

Leanne Fenez, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

Dignity of risk is not about abandoning people to danger; it’s about equipping them to navigate real life. Organizations should be emphasizing training, preparation, and proactive planning. If a risk keeps coming up, the response should be teaching, practicing, adapting environments, or adding supports—not removing opportunities. Risk decreases when competence increases.

Promoting Dignity of Risk in Areas of Relationships

Nikki Anderson, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

Intimacy can be an uncomfortable topic, and organizational fear can sometimes lead to overly cautious responses. By creating thoughtful guidance that emphasizes education, consent, and respect, organizations can support staff to respond with confidence rather than restriction.

Leanne Fenez, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

We need to acknowledge and assume that relationships involve risk… because they do for everyone! Dating, intimacy, family conflict all carry emotional risk, but that doesn’t mean that people should not have full access to these experiences. Instead of gatekeeping, can we coach? And can we start to recognize loneliness as a significant safety risk? It is rarely treated as such and would perhaps help us understand that protecting people from the perceived risk of a messy relationship can result in the harm of loneliness.

Kendra Julius, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist 

What’s more risky than love? While we can teach people to take precautions to prevent pregnancy if they don’t desire to become parents and to avoid STDs, many relationships end, regardless of if we think they will when they begin. One of the most powerful things we can do to support people when they seek love, is to offer a listening ear that doesn’t come with a side of judgement. We can provide supports that serve to increase people’s opportunities for connection and don’t restrict people’s rights around meeting people, having visitors, or visiting others.

Promoting Dignity of Risk in Areas of Choices

Nikki Anderson, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

Use person-centered conversations before policies! Before defaulting to organizational rules or supporting safety concerns, start with a person-centered conversation. Understanding why something matters to someone often reveals creative ways to support the choice while addressing real risks. When people feel heard, they are more likely to engage in shared problem-solving.

Susan Carr, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

People should have the same choices as anyone else. Limiting choices limits the Three E’s: Education, Experience, and Exposure, that people need to lead a full life. Choices should be all of the choices – not just a set amount of choices – cultivated by the agency. 

Tina Lowry, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

Do you skip a medication once in a while? Do you skip medical appointments? Do you make choices about food you eat? Do you drive a little unsafe on the road? Did you grow your hair out to an unusual length one time? Did you decide to sleep in, skip brushing your teeth, wear your PJs all day, and eat breakfast for dinner? Okay… so if you can do it, why are you limiting someone else from doing these things too?

Kim O’Neal, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

Ensure that people are provided the full range of choices available to them, including choices that may currently be unavailable, and inform them of potential constraints. If a person cannot afford certain items or housing, this should be explained in a way that the person understands so they can accurately evaluate their choices.

Promoting Dignity of Risk in Areas of Goals

Leanne Fenez, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

People learn by doing, and sometimes by getting it wrong. Growth, learning, and self-determination are part of a good life. When mistakes are met with punishment, withdrawal of opportunity, or increased control, people quickly learn that autonomy is unsafe. When mistakes are reviewed thoughtfully, they become evidence that can strengthen support. 

Measure progress by learning, not just by success. Someone might attempt something and it doesn’t work. But that might still count because the person learned something, gained skills or confidence, or perhaps learned that they don’t want to do something (by themselves – instead of being told “no” by staff).

Tina Lowry, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

The dreams of those we support may not align with our ethics, values, assumptions, and ideas. Get one of those luggage tags and check your issues and assumptions in the baggage when you start supporting another person. It’s about their dreams and goals.

Jen Steurer, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist

Provide people with information, not control. Allow people to explore what is important to them in life. Help support them by learning what new opportunities are available around them. We don’t know what we don’t know, and we can’t try new things if we don’t realize there are opportunities out there.

Additional Resources About Dignity of Risk 

Here are some more tools, articles, research and training that will help you in supporting Dignity of Risk.

• CQL Video: Dignity of Risk
• Capstone Article: Dignity and Respect – Things That Make You Go … Huh?
• CQL-Hosted Training: Dignity of Risk
• CQL Video: Presuming Competence
• Capstone Article: Recognizing and Remedying Common Forms of Over-Support
• Research Article: Does Denying People with IDD Choice Keep Them Safer? Our Research Says No.
• Capstone Article: The Three Rs – Rights, Risk, and Respect