What is the main purpose of Person-Centered Planning?

The main purpose of Person-Centered Planning is to facilitate a process through which individuals with disabilities can define their own goals and aspirations, effectively planning for their futures. This approach emphasizes the individual's unique preferences, strengths, and needs, ensuring that their personal voice drives the planning process. By focusing on what is important to the individual, Person-Centered Planning encourages empowerment and self-determination, helping them articulate and pursue their desired outcomes in life, including in areas such as employment, relationships, and community involvement.

This method contrasts sharply with approaches that focus on evaluations, assessments, or formal policies. For example, evaluating job performance or providing formal assessments of job skills does not prioritize the individual's personal goals or aspirations. Similarly, outlining workplace policies does not address the individual’s unique preferences, making it less relevant to the core idea of person-centered care. Ultimately, the focus on the individual in Person-Centered Planning is what makes it effective for supporting people with disabilities in defining and achieving their personal goals.