Developmental Services - Person-Centered Planning

Since 1991 Maine has sought to instill person-centered practices in its services to adults with cognitive disabilities or autism. At the same time, there has been increased emphasis on procedures that meet legal requirements and provide for consistency and accountability. There is inherent tension between the interests of a person and the interests of a service system. One of the greatest challenges of doing Person-Centered Planning within a service system is to keep the person as the primary focus, and  not to let the planning process become a bureaucratic exercise in simply following procedures and meeting minimal requirements. The purpose of planning is not simply to comply with regulations, but to increase the person's opportunities to live life as fully as possible.