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Person-Centered Planning
Life Planning › Self-Determination
Person-Centered Planning
My right to make choices. Person-Centered Planning helps your family member envision — and build — the life they truly want.
The best way to address the needs of a person with a disability is to help them build the life they want — centering the process on their hopes, wishes, and dreams. That is the heart of Person-Centered Planning.
Creating a Vision of a Good Life
Individuals in DSPD services create a Person-Centered Support Plan (PCSP) to help them achieve a good life. Families can take part in Person-Centered Planning activities — with or without DSPD services — to create a vision of a good life using tools from Charting the LifeCourse. We’ve created a video series that shows how families can use the Life Trajectory, the Life Domain Vision Tool, and the Integrated Supports Star to build a vision for a good life for their loved ones with disabilities.
An Introduction to Person-Centered Planning
A resource manual for parents and guardians — a plain-language guide to the ideas, tools, and steps of Person-Centered Planning.
Key Topics in Person-Centered Planning
6 Steps for Person-Centered Planning
Don’t know where to start? This tried-and-true six-step process will help you get going with Person-Centered Planning.
It Takes a Village: Choosing and Managing Your Team
You’ve probably heard that “it takes a village to raise a child.” Families may feel it gets harder to rely on their village as a student reaches age fourteen — when transition planning with the school IEP team begins. This guidance offers ideas on how to build and strengthen your village to support your youth or adult family member in designing the life they want.
Key Concepts About Person-Centered Planning
Understanding several key concepts about Person-Centered Planning can give you the commitment to accomplish your goals for helping your family member live the life they want.
Hopes, Wishes, and Dreams
Center the process on the hopes, wishes, and dreams of the person receiving services. Our resources offer ideas on how to support your family member in discovering and communicating their wishes about the hard choices and big decisions that come with the transition to adult life.
Featured Resources
This page was funded by a grant from the Interagency Outreach Training Initiative at Utah State University’s Center for Persons with Disabilities.
Help Your Family Member Build the Life They Dream Of
We wish you the best as you work toward a good life for your family member with disabilities. If you have questions, give us a call and speak with a knowledgeable parent consultant — always free of charge.