Person-Centered Plan
What is Person-Centered Planning?
Person-Centered Planning is about you deciding what’s important in your life and what you want for your future. It includes where you live, work, go to school, and how you spend your free time. Your plan will change as you change. In the Self-Determination Program (SDP), this plan helps set your goals and the supports you need. It will guide your Individual Program Plan (IPP) meeting.
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Key Values of Person-Centered Planning
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1. Presume Competence:
Everyone can guide their own planning process and make choices.
2. Focus on Strengths:
Focus on Strengths: Highlight what you do well, not what you can’t do.
3. Behavior is Communication:
Everyone communicates in their own way and should have the right to make choices.
4. Meaningful Community Life:
Everyone should live and participate in their community, not just in programs for people with disabilities.
5. Respect Cultural Diversity:
Consider your family, religious, ethnic, and racial backgrounds.
Pre-Planning
Before your PCP meeting, make some important decisions:
- When and Where: Choose a time and place where you feel comfortable.
- Topics: Decide what you want to discuss and what you don’t.
- Invitees: Invite people you trust who can help you.
- Facilitator and Note-Taker: Decide who will run the meeting and take notes.
- Participation Needs: Arrange for any assistive technology, visual supports, breaks, or special seating.
- Cultural and Language Needs: Arrange for interpreters or cultural considerations.
Sample Planner: Person-Centered Planning Guide
It's My Choice by the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities
The Planning Meeting
Your planning meeting should be a positive and fun event. It will look different for every participant. Some may want a “party with a purpose,” and others may want one or two trusted friends. The only thing that is required, is that the participant is in control of the process! Here’s what happens:
- Introductions: Everyone introduces themselves and how they know the participant.
- Goals: Discuss your dreams and goals.
- Brainstorming: Think of ways to achieve your goals.
- Action Steps: Plan specific steps, who will do them, and timelines. Create goals and list if supports are needed.
- Follow-Up: Review the steps and possibly schedule follow-up meetings.
After the Meeting
The facilitator will turn the meeting notes into a written plan with clear goals, who is responsible, and timelines. It’s important to follow through on the plan.
Person-Centered Plans are personalized and unique for each person! They can be photos, drawings, or written descriptions—whatever best shows your hopes and dreams. The important thing is that the plan reflects what you want for your life!
Using Your Plan
Your PCP is a guide for your life. Use it to:
- Achieve Goals: Some goals need funding; others don’t.
- Get Support: If you want to you can share your plan with schools, support workers, service providers, and doctors.
- Review Often: Make sure everyone does their part and adjust the plan as needed.
Circle of Support
Thinking about your circle of support helps participants identify who they have in their lives who can provide advice, support, and ideas. Your circle can include family, friends, coworkers, and community members.
Sometimes it feels like you are on your own. A goal in your person-centered plan could be to build a circle of support.
The people in your circle will change over time, and that’s okay.
Funding for Person-Centered Planning
Final Thoughts
The Person-Centered Plan is key to the Self-Determination Program. While not legally required, it is highly recommended. The PCP helps shift the focus from what a person cannot do to what they want to do and how to achieve it. It identifies unmet needs and sets goals for the Individual Program Plan (IPP).
More on Person-Centered Planning
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