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Youth in Transition Toolkit:

Youth in Transition Toolkit

3

Educate families

Core principles

Core principles of person-centered planning include personal focus, choice and self-determination, community inclusion, and availability of services and supports.

LEARN: Develop your knowledge

Learn the core principles of person-centered planning.

  • Personal focus. The person is at the center of the planning process. The person's desires are heard, honored, valued and reflected in their services. People who are important to the person are included in the planning process.
  • Choice and self-determination. People make choices about services, supports and daily life (with support if needed or wanted).
  • Community inclusion. People participate in the community and are treated with dignity and respect.
  • Availability of services and supports. People have access to individualized services that meet their particular needs.
  • Clear information. People must receive information in meaningful ways to understand options and make informed decisions.
  • Coordinated supports. Providers must collaborate to provide cohesive services. 
  • Positive expectations. Everyone on the person's support team believes that improvement, growth and success are possible.

Rooted in Rights offers this award-winning documentary that uses personal stories to explore ways to improve community inclusion for people with disabilities. The Bottom Dollars documentary is broken into nine chapters and offers clear employment alternatives with competitive wages and community inclusion.

DO: Work with families

Help families understand the core principles of person-centered planning.

Share the Hub's person-centered I know me (PDF) guidebook to help families understand what it means for youth to be at the center of the transition planning process. The guidebook can spark discussion about what the youth wants, what's important to them and how they can share this information with the people who support them.

Cover of the Hub's "I Know Me" guidebook. Features a close-up image of a smiling woman's face.
I know me (PDF)

The PACER Center's National Parent Center for Employment and Transition offers a video for families called What is transition and person-centered planning? (07:24). In the video, youth and their families share how person-centered planning helped them in the transition to adulthood.

A screen shot of the PACER Center's video "What is Transition and Person Centered Planning" video. Features an image of two people working at a cash register.
What is transition and person-centered planning?
Next: Charting the LifeCourse »