Person-centered planning (PCP) involves individuals in identifying their own goals, needs, and preferences and creating a plan for achieving those goals. It is a collaborative approach that involves the individual, their family, friends, and professionals who work with the individual or can provide information and guidance. In this article, we explore the process and a variety of ways parents can use a person-centered plan (PCP) to benefit their child with a disability.
Central to the person-centered process is the individual. While the plan involves a circle of support to contribute ideas, it is the person and their dreams, hopes, and needs, that should be driving the plan. The person-centered planning process involves gathering information both from the individual and from people who spend time with them about the individual's strengths, abilities, and challenges, as well as their personal goals and desires. The information is used to develop an action plan tailored to the individual's unique needs and circumstances.
The goal of person-centered planning is to empower the individual to live an autonomous life and to promote positive interdependence, the state of being interconnected with and dependent upon one another. The process emphasizes the individual's right to make choices and be involved in decision-making, and recognizes that each person has unique talents, strengths, and abilities that can be used to achieve their goals. Person-centered planning can be useful for any individual, particularly when facing a major crossroads in their life.
For more information, see our full article Person-Centered Planning 101.
