PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST EXAMS SCRIPT 2026/2027
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔What is the Americans with Disabilities Act? - ✔✔The Americans with Disabilities
Act (ACA) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against
individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools,
transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public.
✔✔What is the Olmstead decision? - ✔✔The Olmstead decision in 1999 was a major
milestone with the U.S. Supreme Court. The Olmstead
decision affirmed the idea that nobody can be separated from society and denied the
right to make
decisions for themselves. In the Olmstead decision, the court concluded that people
with disabilities
have a right to receive state-funded supports in the community, rather than in facilities,
affirming the
argument that had been made by advocates for decades. Evidence provided supported
the fact that
having these choices isn't more expensive, in fact, it costs less. The legacy of the
Olmstead decision is
that community living isn't just a preference, it's a civil right. You have the right to
access supports you
may need in your home rather than a facility.
✔✔What is the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act? - ✔✔In 1967, California passed the
Lanterman-Petris-Short Act to, "end the inappropriate, indefinite, and
involuntary commitment of persons with mental health disorders, people with
developmental
disabilities, persons impaired by chronic alcoholism, and to eliminate legal disabilities. "
✔✔How do Peer Support Specialists create healing relationships? - ✔✔Peer Support
Specialists have the ability to create healing relationships based on respect,
compassion,
open and honest communication, active listening and cultural humility.
✔✔What is cultural humility? - ✔✔Cultural humility involves an ongoing process of self-
exploration and self-critique combined with a
willingness to learn from others. It means entering a relationship with another person
with the intention
of honoring their beliefs, customs, and values. It means acknowledging differences and
accepting that
person for who they are.
✔✔Cultural Humility Principles: - ✔✔1. Lifelong commitment to learning and critical self-
reflection;
, 2. Desire to fix power imbalances within provider-client dynamic;
3. Institutional accountability and mutually respectful partnership based on trust.
✔✔What is person-first language? - ✔✔"Person-first" language describes what a person
has, not who a person is.
✔✔What is structural racism? - ✔✔Systemic and structural racism are forms of racism
that are pervasively and deeply embedded in systems,
laws, written or unwritten policies, and entrenched practices and beliefs that produce,
condone and
perpetuate widespread unfair treatment and oppression of people of color, with adverse
health
consequences. In California, communities of color face persistent health disparities
including higher rates
of asthma, diabetes, and obesity, resulting in a shorter life span, less wealth, and less
opportunity. There
are connections between behavioral health conditions and trauma, health disparities,
and social
inequity, which help explain such disparities.
✔✔What is trauma? - ✔✔Trauma is extreme stress brought on by shocking or
unexpected circumstances or events that overwhelm
a person's ability to cope.
✔✔What is trauma-informed care? - ✔✔An awareness of the prevalence of trauma;
● An understanding of the impact of trauma on physical, emotional, and mental health
as well as
on behaviors and engagement to services; and
● An understanding that current service systems can retraumatize individuals.
✔✔What are Trauma-informed peer approaches? - ✔✔1. Work at healing our own
trauma so that we can support others.
2. Assume that everyone has experienced trauma on some level. Use a trauma-
informed approach
with everyone.
3. Educate all staff and people being served about trauma
4. Ask "What happened to you?" rather than "What's wrong with you?"
5. Seek to understand the meaning people make of their experiences
6. Create a welcoming non-judgmental environment where people can consider new
coping
strategies
7. Give people choices, safety, and a voice and eliminate coercion
8. Honor people's culture, background, and individual needs
9. Avoid doing harm (retraumatizing people)
10. Find ways to include people in the community even when their behavior pushes
others away
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔What is the Americans with Disabilities Act? - ✔✔The Americans with Disabilities
Act (ACA) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against
individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools,
transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public.
✔✔What is the Olmstead decision? - ✔✔The Olmstead decision in 1999 was a major
milestone with the U.S. Supreme Court. The Olmstead
decision affirmed the idea that nobody can be separated from society and denied the
right to make
decisions for themselves. In the Olmstead decision, the court concluded that people
with disabilities
have a right to receive state-funded supports in the community, rather than in facilities,
affirming the
argument that had been made by advocates for decades. Evidence provided supported
the fact that
having these choices isn't more expensive, in fact, it costs less. The legacy of the
Olmstead decision is
that community living isn't just a preference, it's a civil right. You have the right to
access supports you
may need in your home rather than a facility.
✔✔What is the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act? - ✔✔In 1967, California passed the
Lanterman-Petris-Short Act to, "end the inappropriate, indefinite, and
involuntary commitment of persons with mental health disorders, people with
developmental
disabilities, persons impaired by chronic alcoholism, and to eliminate legal disabilities. "
✔✔How do Peer Support Specialists create healing relationships? - ✔✔Peer Support
Specialists have the ability to create healing relationships based on respect,
compassion,
open and honest communication, active listening and cultural humility.
✔✔What is cultural humility? - ✔✔Cultural humility involves an ongoing process of self-
exploration and self-critique combined with a
willingness to learn from others. It means entering a relationship with another person
with the intention
of honoring their beliefs, customs, and values. It means acknowledging differences and
accepting that
person for who they are.
✔✔Cultural Humility Principles: - ✔✔1. Lifelong commitment to learning and critical self-
reflection;
, 2. Desire to fix power imbalances within provider-client dynamic;
3. Institutional accountability and mutually respectful partnership based on trust.
✔✔What is person-first language? - ✔✔"Person-first" language describes what a person
has, not who a person is.
✔✔What is structural racism? - ✔✔Systemic and structural racism are forms of racism
that are pervasively and deeply embedded in systems,
laws, written or unwritten policies, and entrenched practices and beliefs that produce,
condone and
perpetuate widespread unfair treatment and oppression of people of color, with adverse
health
consequences. In California, communities of color face persistent health disparities
including higher rates
of asthma, diabetes, and obesity, resulting in a shorter life span, less wealth, and less
opportunity. There
are connections between behavioral health conditions and trauma, health disparities,
and social
inequity, which help explain such disparities.
✔✔What is trauma? - ✔✔Trauma is extreme stress brought on by shocking or
unexpected circumstances or events that overwhelm
a person's ability to cope.
✔✔What is trauma-informed care? - ✔✔An awareness of the prevalence of trauma;
● An understanding of the impact of trauma on physical, emotional, and mental health
as well as
on behaviors and engagement to services; and
● An understanding that current service systems can retraumatize individuals.
✔✔What are Trauma-informed peer approaches? - ✔✔1. Work at healing our own
trauma so that we can support others.
2. Assume that everyone has experienced trauma on some level. Use a trauma-
informed approach
with everyone.
3. Educate all staff and people being served about trauma
4. Ask "What happened to you?" rather than "What's wrong with you?"
5. Seek to understand the meaning people make of their experiences
6. Create a welcoming non-judgmental environment where people can consider new
coping
strategies
7. Give people choices, safety, and a voice and eliminate coercion
8. Honor people's culture, background, and individual needs
9. Avoid doing harm (retraumatizing people)
10. Find ways to include people in the community even when their behavior pushes
others away
