Person-centered planning focuses on empowering individuals by starting with their strengths and gifts, presuming competence, and supporting informed choice. The process involves a circle of support who believe in the individual and help them discover their gifts and explore hopes and dreams. This leads to an action plan and place where the individual belongs in the community through meaningful engagement and relationships.

1. Person Centered Planning
with integrity
beyond compliance to quality life planning

2. The Underlying Assumptions
➢ Each person has a right to and capacity
for a meaningful life
○ Every person is equal
○ Each person has gifts
○ Discovering and using those gifts in a place
that accepts and appreciates those gifts is
what creates a meaningful life
○ Each gift has a “place” where it is needed

3. The Underlying Principles
➢ Begins with the person
○ Not Program Centered Planning
■ Here are the options we have for you…
■ Pick one!
○ The boundaries
■ Set by the person and the plan
■ Not the program
➢ Strengthens the voice of the person
○ Competent facilitation is critical

4. The Underlying Principles
➢ The process expands the person’s
understanding of self & gifts
Gifts are often submerged, hidden from view
Gifts can only be discovered through experiences
Limitations can only be discovered through experiences
Discovery of gifts and limitations is done by the person…
no one else.
○ The Circle supports experiences for discovery
○ The Circle must believe in the person so that they can
believe in themselves
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5. The Underlying Principles
➢ Presume competence
○ The circle of support is made up of allies that
believe in the person
○ Allies are there to support the person to explore
their Hopes and Dreams
○ Exploration is important so that the person can
determine their own limitations
○ Limiting is not something that allies do
○ Allies are there to support learning, voice, and
choice

6. The Underlying Principles
➢ Informed Choice
○ All relevant options are first presented and
then explored first hand.
○ Choice is based on the Person Centered
Planning Process rather than the capacity of
the agency staff or system.
○ Choice is made by the person with the
support of allies

7. The Underlying Principles
➢ Self Determination
○ Begins with the voice of the person
○ The circle of supports exists to strengthen
that voice
○ Choice is informed and rooted in the Hopes
and Dreams, Aspirations and Abilities of the
person

8. The Intended Outcomes
➢ Circle of Support
○ Allies are there to listen, learn, and support the
person
○ Allies are there to believe in the person so they can
learn to believe in themselves and their gifts
○ Allies go away from the process with clear and
tangible roles in the person’s life
○ These roles give each ally meaningful purpose
that keeps them engaged and involved

9. The Intended Outcomes
➢ The Action Plan
○ The clear voice & desire of the person
○ Gifts are identified and explored with a step by step
plan of action
○ Places are identified and explored with a step by step
plan of action
○ A place(s) is discovered where the gift is needed
○ Results: meaningful engagement
○ A place(s) to belong
○ A beloved community

10. The Intended Outcomes
➢ A place where I belong
○ Relationships are foundational to a meaningful life
○ Community is developed through connecting with
people, nurturing those connections, expanding
those connections into companionships.
○ Support staff natural supports become “bridgebuilders” to facilitate connection with people that
are joining in activities of common interest

11. Facilitating Life Planning
➢ A Proven Group Process that is
generative and creative, including
■ Guidelines defining the role of each person at
the meeting
■ Guidelines that define the purpose and ground
rules of the group process that is selected
■ Guidelines clarifying expectations for outcomes
(clearly defined roles leaving the meeting)