The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

Use this site to access recordings and presentations from National Conferences

Autism Society records most keynote and concurrent sessions at their annual conferences. You can see and hear those recordings by purchasing full online access, or individual recordings.

5573 Let's Plan Together: Person-Directed Planning


Friday, July 8, 2011: 3:15 PM-4:30 PM
Sun 5-6 (Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center)
Person-directed planning is a value-based process that helps people with developmental disabilities and/or autism, along with their families and networks, to think about and plan for the future. Geneva Centre for Autism is a partner organization in a person-directed planning initiative for adults. This session will provide information on this planning process, tools that can be helpful, and examples of individual plans. Person directed planning has been used for a number of years by individuals, families and networks. For the first time this process is being funded by the government of Ontario. Geneva Centre for Autism is a partner with 7 other agencies in Toronto offering PDP to individuals as a funded service.

Person directed planning assists families and people with developmental disabilities and /or autism to plan for their future. It:

  • highlights the importance of building a life in community
  • shows how the process of person-directed planning gives a person more choice and control over their lives
  • provides direction during times of transition
  • offers practical suggestions on how to can proceed.

Person-directed planning puts the person with a disability at the heart of important decisions that affect their life.

A review of the PDP process will provide participants with an understanding its value and importance when working with individuals with disabilities to plan for their future and to build the supports necessary to be successful. A discussion of its implementation into Geneva Centre for Autism's adult services and the impact it has had with individuals on the spectrum will further demonstrate it value as a tool for planning with individuals.

This session will review tools used in the planniing process as well as review examples of person-directed plans to give the participant an understanding of how they are designed and what the outcomes can be.

Learning Objectives:

  • Participants will be able to understand the tools that can be beneficial to the planning process.
  • Participants will be able to gain an understanding of the person directed planning process.
  • Participants will be able to gain an understanding of the process outcomes.

Content Area: Long-term Services and Support

Presenter:

Debbie Irish, DSW
Chief Operating Officer
Geneva Centre for Autism

Debbie joined Geneva Centre for Autism to develop respiteservices.com. Debbie has held a number of positions: Manager of the Training Institute, Program Director and most recently Chief Operating Officer. Debbie has presented at a number of conferences on Person-Directed Planning, respite models, adult models of service, and elearning.