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PERSON-CENTERED SUPPORTS ARE FOR EVERYONE!
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Our nation must empower and support all people with developmental disabilities to realize their own vision for their lives. To accomplish this, families, friends, allies, communities, provider agencies, professionals, advocates and government must work together to do whatever it takes to enable each individual to realize her or his unique vision. This will only happen when we put people with developmental disabilities first and support them one-person-at-a-time.
Person-centered supports are for everyone.
Principles
The fundamental principles of person-centered supports are . . .
Each person shall have the authority to define and pursue his or her own vision. Person-centered supports start with listening to the person and honoring each person's vision. The individual's vision must be honored, respected and supported. The goal must be to promote each person's empowerment, dignity and positive self-image.
People should be able to do what they want, when they want, with whom they want and as often as they want.
Self-determination is a must. People and families are entitled to the freedom, authority and support to control, direct and manage their own services, supports and funding. Individuals and families have the right to select their own services and supports as well as decide how and by whom supports are provided.
Personal relationships and community membership are valued. It is absolutely vital to promote the inclusion, presence and participation in community life for all individuals, at all ages and across all dimensions of life. People must be supported in their social and spiritual life, friendships, and intimate relationships.
"Self-Determination turns the system upside down and puts people with disabilities at the top. It changes the way things are done so that we have choice and control." - Gail Bottoms
All networks and systems of support must collaborate in support of the person's vision. Families, neighbors, friends, coworkers, and classmates play important roles in the lives of people with developmental disabilities. These rich, vibrant networks of support connect people to their communities. Public systems must work hand-in-hand with these networks in supporting individuals.
People and families must participate as valued and empowered partners in all decision-making. People and families must have meaningful leadership roles at all levels. It is crucial that government, providers, and community organizations welcome, listen to and collaborate with people and families in solving problems, making decisions, and pursuing excellence.
"People who have control need to become listeners." - John Jordan
Individuals must have supports to contribute to their communities and engage in meaningful work. People with developmental disabilities want to and can make valuable contributions to their communities. There must be supports that assist people to make a difference. Youth and adults must be supported to have real jobs, earn money or run their own businesses.
Families are supported and valued. Families support people with developmental disabilities of all ages. Support networks must partner with families and offer critical services that not only address the needs of the family member with a disability but also support and strengthen the family itself. The unique needs and preferences of each family shall be acknowledged, respected and accommodated.
"Families know their family members better than anyone."
All people and families must have access to supports when and as they need them. Every individual must have easy and timely access to vital services and supports in order to achieve his or her personal vision and enjoy quality of life. There will be energetic outreach to all our nation's diverse communities so that they can access supports on their own terms.
The personal security and well being of people must be ensured. People must be secure in their own lives. They must not be exposed to neglect, abuse or exploitation. They must have high quality health care. Ensuring the personal security and well being must not sacrifice the right of individuals to live everyday lives of their choosing in the community, exercise choice and pursue their dreams and aspirations.
There must be a resolute, continuous commitment to achieve excellence in all dimensions of supporting individuals and families. High quality services enable people to realize their vision.
How Will We Know?
We will know that supports are person-centered when we see that ....
People and families have authority over their lives.
People and families feel welcome to express their ideas, needs and preferences. There is understanding and responsiveness to people's creativity and initiative.
Individuals and families have the time and support they need to understand, plan, and become informed to develop their own plans.
Individuals and their allies lead and direct the development of their support plans with assistance as needed from support coordinators, guardians, professionals, brokers and/or agents.
Individuals and families determine the amount and types of supports they use.
"People have the right to make mistakes and try again."
People and families determine their own supports.
There is support and encouragement for the choice and use of generic services, including faith communities and other social service networks.
Based on qualities that they believe are important, people and families have free choice in hiring, firing, supervising and training support workers or selecting providers.
Individuals are empowered to choose where and with whom they live. Public policy promotes the availability of housing options and enforces universal design criteria.
Individuals and families control the money available for their supports.
Public dollars are portable and flexible and are tied to people and families.
Dollars change as people's needs and circumstances change.
Individuals and families have the authority to manage dollars and design an individual budget that takes into account the person's wants and needs along with the resources available to the person.
Assistance is available to individuals and families to help them to manage individual budgets, including fiscal intermediaries.
"Money equals power and therefore choice."
There are brokers or agents available to individuals and families to assist them to plan, secure and arrange supports.
People and families have the right to select a broker/agent of their choosing.
Brokers/agents are free of conflict of interest, independent of service provision and accountable to the individual or family.
Agents/brokers are persistent advocates for the individuals and families they support.
Agents and brokers have the skills and knowledge to know what is effective.
"Brokers/agents work for individuals and families to help them get what they need."
People receive the support they need to have enough friends and spend time with them.
People's needs for intimate relationships are recognized and supported.
People have support to take part in social, spiritual, recreational and community activities of their choice.
"There must be support for real relationships." - Mary Gennaro
Individuals are supported to contribute to their communities and engage in meaningful work.
Work and contributions of all types that benefit the person, community and employer are valued and supported.
Supports for work and community contributions are integrated into the workplace and everyday places in the community.
Supports for work and community contributions are integrated into the workplace and everyday places in the community.
People who hold paid jobs enjoy the benefits of their work without fear of losing needed health care, housing, employment supports, transportation and other supports.
There is a good understanding of employer and community organization needs in supporting people in the workplace and making other contributions.
"Each individual is empowered to define meaningful work and contribution on his/her own terms."
Families are valued and supported in their own right.
Families feel welcome, supported and respected.
All children grow up with families.
Families receive assistance in futures planning.
Relevant information and training opportunities are continuously available to individuals and families.
There is access to information, training, technical assistance, and an ongoing cycle of learning at all levels: individuals, families, providers, state, local and federal systems, and communities.
Individuals and families participate in designing and are welcome to participate in all opportunities for education and training.
"Information is essential to choice and individual family empowerment."
A person-centered system works in partnership with all networks of support.
People have one plan that pulls together all sources of paid, generic and natural supports in pursuit of their personal vision.
The system flexes to support unique and creative ways to support people, including public-private partnerships and amplifying the availability of generic supports.
There is sponsorship and support for ongoing formal training and education programs about the role of natural and community supports in meeting the needs of individuals.
"The public system does not drive everything but must work in tandem with all support networks."
Cultural competency is absolutely necessary to achieve inclusion for all people with disabilities.
There is outreach to and advocacy for the needs of diverse communities.
Cultural differences and diversity are acknowledged and respected.
Support strategies respect each person's definition of what they want in life in keeping with their culture, traditions and beliefs.
"An improved quality of life as defined by the individual is the central outcome that must be achieved."
A high-quality workforce is a must-have.
There is recognition that a quality workforce is vital if people and families are to exercise choice, enjoy quality of life and have safety and security in their lives.
The workforce has the skills to meet the needs of people they support, are empowered to assist individuals in overcoming barriers, and responsive to their individual choices.
To see the full report from which these exerpts have been taken, click on the headline at the top of this article.
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