It used to be the norm that human and medical services systems would decide what support was available for people with disabilities. The person with a disability’s label was the only thing considered, not any of their strengths or talents. If a person with a disability wanted to receive these supports, they would need to figure out how to make themselves fit and plan their lives around the offered services. These services focused on fixing a person, not taking the person into consideration.

However, since the 1960’s people with disabilities started to demand more control over the services. The idea of “self-determination” came out of this movement, considering that people with disabilities are the ones making things happen in their own lives instead of others doing things to or for them.

This is at the core of person-centered planning, accepting that the person with a disability is whole, with gifts, strengths, and talents to be offered to their community. The person is considered beyond their disability label and seen as an individual with the right to make choices.

Person-centered planning is a process that puts the person with a disability at the center of the work, including the person’s network (which includes family, friends, co-workers, professionals, and other important people in the person’s life). Together, with the help of a professional, they work on a plan that will honor the choices that the person with a disability has a right to make to determine what it means to have their best life.

If you are interested in person-centered planning, you should contact The Arc Minnesota for more information at 952-920-0855 or 833.450.1494 or visit www.arcminnesota.org.