Creating a Person-Centered Vision for Independence
By Abby Martucci, Families CCAN Program Director
I have the privilege of working with some pretty amazing families! I get to meet families at many different points in their independence journeys: from families supporting high school students as they prepare for the post-secondary world to families assisting older adults as they make plans for aging-in-place. One thing they all have in common is a strong commitment to helping their loved one live their best, most fulfilling life—regardless of where they are on their Independence Journey.
At Families CCAN, we believe that a person-centered, strengths-based approach is necessary for creating that best life. We work to elevate and understand the hopes and dreams of the individual with disabilities.
We often refer to this process as Creating a Personal Vision for Independence.
“Creating a Vision” is just a fancy label to describe the process in which a person describes their ideas for how they want their life to look. Where do they want to live? Who might they want to live with? What is their dream job? Who are the people to keep close? What new activities or connections do they want to make?
Here’s a little thought experiment to help demonstrate this process:
Imagine you hop on a bus, with no clue where it’s headed. After a while you learn that it is headed to Florida. Florida is great for some people—it has warm weather, Disney World, and beaches. But then you realize that you hate the heat, sand, and crowds. This may be a great bus for people who want to go to Florida, and it seems to be filled with wonderful passengers, but this is not the bus for you. Why? Because Florida is not the right destination for you. You need to 1) get off that bus headed to Florida; 2) figure out where you want to go; and then 3) get on the bus that will take you there.
For individuals with disabilities, creating a vision for independence is a lot like making sure you get on the right bus. You are the only person who will be able to make the right choice for your destination. Creating a person-centered vision for independence requires taking the time and having the supports to think about what your best life will look like. It will involve teamwork, on-going conversations, and trying new things. Families can help by keeping their loved one’s dreams at the center, working to utilize their strengths, and finding appropriate supports.
It is possible to create a just-right journey to a great life. The person-centered approach ensures that your family member gets on the right bus—with the right supports—to take them to the destination of their dreams!
