Person-Centered Planning
Person-centered planning tools are used to help individuals, teams, or organizations achieve any of the following:
- Learn more about a person or organizations history
- Ensure that everyone involved is working toward the same goals
- Develop goals that are positive and possible and a timeline for achieving goals
- Identify strategies to accomplish desired goals
Person-centered planning involves a team facilitator who is trained in person-centered planning and assists the team in staying focused. The facilitator also ensures that everyone participates in positive and collaborative ways. Person-centered planning uses a group-graphics format. This means that the facilitator leads a group of individuals committed to the same goal (e.g., helping an individual become more self sufficient). The facilitator "takes notes" on large sheets of paper affixed to the wall so that everyone can track the process. Notes are recorded using pictures and other graphics to ensure that everyone is able to understand, regardless of one's ability to read or write. This ensures that children and individuals with disabilities are able to participate in planning their own future.
If you are interested in pursuing person-centered planning for yourself or someone you work with contact one of the following resources:
- Autism Training Center at Marshall University (person-centered planning for individuals with autism)
- Center for Excellence in Disabilities (CED) at West Virginia University (person-centered planning for adults with disabilities)
