My son and I recently attended a workshop on Person Centered Planning from our local Arc partnered with our school district. Although we were both there as observers, we soon discovered that everyone in each circle is included in the process.

It was presented as a respectful, encouraging, and enlightening process that created a similar response in me as it did in my son, toward the person at the center. My son took notes so that we could create a page for him at home.

To his delight, he was invited to sit in for the second example of creating a page in our group. Far more individual than any IEP process, my son was the main participant in creating a descriptive page on the spot that expressed what he felt was significant about his life. The experience is not a superficial survey or collection of facts about an individual's talents, abilities, challenges or interests.

It is a powerful process for individuals and families. Through being included it felt natural to develop a deeper attachment to each participant that might be experienced at major milestone events like graduations, weddings, and significant birthdays for individuals in our families.

Each page is unique to the person describing themselves in its design and presentation as well as information. The most softspoken and reflective individuals have the same opportunity to express themselves as the most gregarious; each person is encouraged to invest their efforts among a trusted circle of invited participants.

This was a powerful experience even when strangers seeking to learn more about the process took the seats usually reserved for family and friends. Something our trainer mentioned was that having a Person Centered Plan in a presentation format can help show where an individual once was and once wanted, as a guide to getting back to a better place after a crisis.

Our local Arc offers to train individuals, especially those working in school district transition programs, to use this process for students. The trainer in our group was especially gifted, but I believe there are teachers and staff throughout our communities and schools who might share their talents as well, given comparative training and experience.

Browse at your local bookstore, public library or online retailers for books about Person Centered Planninglike Person Centered Planning Made Easy - The Picture Method or Person Centered Planning - Research, Practice, and Future Directions

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