Person Centered Planning vs. Traditional Planning

Traditional Planning	Person-Centered Planning
Person • Focus on deficits • Top down planning • Primacy of professionals • Reliance on standardized assessments and procedures	Person • Focus on strengths, capacities, needs of person • Person and family are key informants • Balance of formal and informal viewpoints
Goal • Matriculation through segregated system of support • Amelioration of deficits	Goal • Equality • Quality of life in the community
Focus • Needs of service delivery system or support structure	Focus • Individual needs, preferences, strengths, and capacities of person
Teams • Person and family in passive respondent role • Expert model of support • Supports as outlined by professionals dictated to families	Teams • Person and family at center • Cooperative efforts among family, friends, community groups, support agencies, and government are necessary if a quality of life is to be achieved for the focus individual
Nature of Supports • Highly prescriptive housing, support and work options based on "readiness for community living assumptions"	Nature of Supports • Highly individualized housing, support, and work options based on individual need, preferences, and capacities