We often get caught up in the simple idea that a busy day is a meaningful day and that the more activities that an individual is involved in, then their lives must be fulfiling.  There is a distinct difference between "busy work" and "meaningful".

Rather than thinking in terms of "activities", think of what our loved ones are doing each day by the particular roles they have within these activities.  Keep in mind that just "being there" does not guarantee a role. 

A danger for individuals with disabilities is to spend their days coasting or "floating".  Not only do we owe them the dignity of risk, we also owe them the dignity of experience, to not spend their days killing time.  

Often individuals and their families struggle with knowing what is meaningful.  For many individuals it is difficult to know what they find interesting or meaningful without having previous experiences to draw from.  Many families commit to investing a period of time solely on trying new things.  Some families have brainstormed a list of experiences that might be typically appropriate for individuals of the same age as their loved one.  These are tried one by one.  Once an individual has tried each of these experiences they have the knowledge to decide what is of interterest or "meaningful" to them and what is not.

Again, filling up an individual's week with available activities does not account for meaningful days that is just a time filler.  Working on finding employment, expanding your knowledge or taking part in activities that are in line with an individuals life plan or just simply enjoyable to that individual is meaningful.  Having VALUED ROLES is meaningful.  Instead of looking at what is available and drawing from that, start with what is meaningful to that person and go out and find the resources to suit their needs.

Person Centered Planning refers to an ideology, which is used as an approach to help guide, organize and assist people with disabiities, their families and friends to access their community.

Person Centered Planning refers to a "philosophy" rather than any specific tool.  So Person Centered Planning is not something you do, rather it is something you believe....

There are five experience individuals with developmental disabilities are at risk of missing if we don not identify and address them.  Ironically, these five areas mirror the five main areas of life that we as a society value most to define us, and our own place within society.

• Sharing Places-Individuals with disabilities should share the ordinary places and activities that are frequented by individuals of a similar age.  Including, but not exclusive to : work, home and neighbourhoods.
• Belonging-The quality of life for individuals with disabilities is greater if they have a sense of belonginyg and experience a wide range of relationships.
• Being Somebody-All individuals have value and are seen as people first rather than by deficits and labels.  Individuals should be supported to have rolesthat are available to all citizens' not just people with disabilities.
• Choosing-Individuals should be expected, supported and encouraged to make choices in their lives, both big and small.
• Contributing-Individuals with disabilities should have opportunity to contribute their gifts, talents, and support to the community at large.

Creating a good life for someone will include ensuring they have:                                                            

• positive relationships
• a home (not just a house)
• education/employment of their choice
• recreation/leisure (explore their interests)

We can address these experiences purposefully by:

• Creating vision
• Discovering Capacity
• Sharing Resources
• Developing supports
• Building Community

We can move towards a life for individuals with developmental disabilities which would now be characterized by:

• Meaningful involvement in community
• Development of an expansive and diverse range of relationships
• Being seen for contributions and gifts
• Having choice
• Respected and valued citizens

It is important to note that Person Centered Planning is not something you "do" once in an individual's lifetime, or even annually, that you check a box in as ervice plan "completed".  This is ongoing and will change often and sometimes drastically as people change and grow in their lifetime.

It is also important to consider that these are only a few ideas around Persons Centered Plannning and that many individuals have spent their lives studying this ideology and it's various aspects.  Here is a list of other resources to explore:

Links to Websites:

The Social Role Valorization Home Page- http://socialrolevalorization.com/

The Inclusion Press- http://www.inclusion.com/

The Persons Centered Planning Education Site: Cornell University- http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/pcp

Keystone Human Services - http://www.keystonehumanservieces.org/wounding/php

Capacity Works - http://www.capacityworks.com/index.html

JP Das Developmental Disabilities Center- http://www.ualberta.ca/~jpdasddc/INDEX.html

The NTH DEGREE- www.thenthdegree.com/default.asp

Diverse City Press Inc.- www.diverse-city.com/books.htm

Quality mall- www.qualitymall.org/main/selfadvocacyonline.org/

Self Advocates- www.selfadvocacyonline.org/

Recommended Reading:

Building New Worlds: A sourcebook for Students with Disabilities in Transition from High School to Adult Life -Beth Mount and Connie Lyle O'Brien

Implementing Person Centered Planning: Voices of Experience -John O'Brien

Building Communities from the Inside Out -John McKnight and John Kretzmann

Becoming Human -Jean Vanier

Make A Difference: A Guidebook for Person Centered Direct Support -John O'Brien and Beth Mount

Roles Based Planning -Scott Ramsay DDRC Calgary

PATH: Planning Positive Possible Futures -Jack Pearpoint, John O'Brien and Marsha Forest

All My Life's A Circle -M. Falvey, M. Forest, J. O'Brien, and R. Rosenberg

Person Centered Planning Made Easy -S. Holburn, A. Gordon, and P. Vietze