By Beth Schaffner

What is Person-Centered Planning?

“Person-Centered Planning refers to a family of approaches to organizing and guiding community change in alliance with people with disabilities and their families and friends.” O’Brien & Lovett

In Person-Centered Planning, a trained facilitator and recorder team help to organize natural supports (like family, friends and acquaintances) as well as formal community supports and services to plan for and achieve a desirable future for the individual.

Person–Centered Planning

• Focuses on a young person’s strengths and interests.
• Gathers a group of the student’s family, friends, neighbors, teachers, service providers, and others.
• Is positive and enjoyable.
• Helps develop a solid plan for reaching a positive future.
• See an example of a path developed through person-centered planning (Rob's Path)
  

Types of Person-Centered Planning Processes

The following well-known person centered planning processes share underlying values and similarities but may differ in their application.

• MAPS (Making Action Plans)
• PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope) * Used with Rob
• PFP (Personal Futures Planning)

What is a PATH- Planning Alternative Tomorrow's with Hope?

• An approach to person-centered planning which is often used to assist a transition-aged young person and his or her family and friends to articulate a positive vision for the young person’s future
• Develops a series of action steps for identifying resources, enlisting the help of others, and moving toward that positive future. 
• A strength-based and possibility-focused approach that is in direct contrast to typical systems-based IEP or other individual planning meetings which often tend to focus on the remediation of a person’s deficits and a more limited vision for the person.

References

Forest, M.  & Pearpoint, J.  (1997). All my life’s a circle. Toronto, Canada:   Inclusion Press International.

Pearpoint, J., O'Brien, J., & Forest, M. (2001). A workbook for planning possible futures: Planning alternative tomorrow's with hope (2nd ed.).. Toronto, Canada:   Inclusion Press International.