Thinking Outside The Box
“If you want to have a person-centered plan, ask, and if they don’t listen ask again and insist on it and get other people to help advocate for you.”
Self-advocate and President of People First of NH, Kelly Ehrhart states, “Person-centered planning is important to me because it takes into account the whole person I am, such as hopes and dreams, [things] that are not included in my individual service agreement [which are] paid for by my insurance company such as yoga at the YMCA, and natural supports that are free.”
Kelly heard about person-centered planning and sought out support in designing one. She states, “I learned to do a person-centered plan by being introduced to a continuum of collaborative care model, which is when your mental health team and developmental disability team work together. I think service providers should know your plans and hopes and dreams and help you think outside the box.”
DRC-NH, in collaboration with the UNH Institute on Disability and the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities, distribute a quarterly RAP sheet to educate community members and policy makers about the latest research, policy, practice, and advocacy issues affecting individuals with disabilities and their families.
