Importance of Person-Centred Planning

Criteria 1: Introduction

PLAN 182

Darrell Mayes

Skye Batdorf

September 28, 2017

Importance of Person-Centred Planning

When people reflect on the history of individuals with disabilities, it’s obvious to see

that there have been very problematic instances where they have been abused, mistreated,

and marginalized in the community, segregated because they were different physically or

intellectually. In the past, some have labelled them as incapable of making their own decisions

and that they needed to be cared for by the government system. This unhealthy way of thinking

and misguided beliefs resulted in people with disabilities to lack value and power over their

own lives. Systems that supported them were maintaining control over their lives because it

was easier to solve foreseeable problems and limitations of this population. During the 1960s, a

disability rights movement began that declared against common societal beliefs that individuals

with disabilities shouldn’t be treated as outcasts and that their ailments were not illnesses that

made them less human. With this movement, they demanded a greater say for more accessible

services and inclusion in community. Person-centred planning became a tool that helped

implement these changes.

To begin, person-centred planning is a life plan model where a series of methods are

intended to assist individuals to plan their life by focusing on their needs, paths to success, and

enable those who require services to improve their personal self-determination and

independence. It is most often used for life planning for people with learning and

developmental disabilities to help them become valued members of society. It is a personal

commitment where one can learn about the interests and needs of someone who is deciding

and planning their goals that are an important impact to their life. Person-centred planning

requires getting to know them to be able to provide a good support system, to help them in

achieving their dreams and important roles and opportunities in community inclusion. This
Importance of Person-Centred Planning

practise primarily encompasses the participant as the driver of the process because they should

have control over their own life as much as they possibly can, focusing on their gifts and

abilities (Saskatchewan Polytechnic 2017, manual page 3). To address their goals, needs, and

support during life changes, a core group of associates work together to help the individual;

such as support workers, trained doctors or therapists, family members, loved ones, as well as

other people they may choose who are all included in the process showing commitment to

helping them achieve whichever goals they decide.

Contrary to old system methods, person-centred planning is non-restrictive and

concentrates on positive self-determination, obtaining valued roles in community, and

developing respectful relationships. This process has become essential in the social service

world where people attend training to become person centred, helping others become the best

they can be while working towards the participants’ dreams. Having a plan enables them to

figure out what goals they want and how to achieve them, known as a “toolbox method”

(Saskatchewan Polytechnic 2017, manual page 2). In the course manual, John O’Brien states

that past patterns labelled people with disabilities as being different from others, disconnected

from society, and dependent because they couldn’t take care of themselves (Saskatchewan

Polytechnic, 2017 manual page 4). He states that society should continue to move towards

including participants and developing the ideology that they can be interdependent, meaning

they are able to take care of themselves.

Citizens who need these services, want to be like others who don’t have a disability

label, by having a present and future they are proud of and look forward to. To be supported,

means giving them an opportunity to develop skills and assets in making good decisions, being
Importance of Person-Centred Planning

more independent, and being the best they can be. Person-centred planning is important

because it is participant focused, by collaborating with a team of supports to meet the needs of

the individual and it is an on-going learning process of working together to remove boundaries

in communities and provide more opportunities to people with disabilities. This process

influences the way systems provide services to this populace, changing the way they would

solve problems for participants, to assisting or teaching them how to make decisions and

responding in a better way that compliments everyone’s unique interests and abilities.
Importance of Person-Centred Planning

Cited References

Saskatchewan Polytechnic (2017). Plan 182 Person-Centred Planning Course Manual 2017-2018

Saskatchewan Polytechnic Saskatoon Campus.