How can we provide you with a life that makes sense to you on your own terms? This is a question that you may have. To achieve a life that makes sense to you on your own terms we use a process call Person-Centered Planning.
The Person-Centered Planning process starts by finding out what you need and want. You, your family, and those you know and care about tell us about you. We come to understand your personal, educational, vocational, medical, and safety support needs in relation to what you want. Then, we find ways to do it. We talk to others who can provide supports in the community and make a plan. The plan needs to be flexible and allow for change when the change makes sense or just happens because of uncontrollable circumstances. The plan grows and changes as you grow and change. It is a lifetime plan.
Person-Centered Planning (PCP) is a philosophy intended to change the way we plan, design, and deliver supports. Most people have some control over planning for their future, but because people with developmental disabilities rely heavily on services, they often do not have the same freedom as others. Person-Centered Planning is an empowering approach to help people make changes in their life, achieve their goals and plan for the future by identifying and organizing the systems and support they need to live a life that makes sense to them. Some people like to take each day as it comes and take opportunities as they arise; others have clear plans and goals of what they would like to achieve by a particular time in their lives. Both approaches can be considered in the plan to reflect the individual personality.
The aim of Person-Centered Planning is to always put the person at the centre of the planning process. People who know and care about the individual who the individual consents to be involved are important members of the support network. Although other people have input into an individual’s plans, the key focus is on the person and how he/she wants to live. Person Centered Planning seeks to extend the range of options and choices available to individuals, promoting independence and encouraging people with intellectual disabilities to take charge of their own lives by encouraging maximum involvement in planning and decision making.
