Person-centered planning is an approach towards developing an individualized plan that puts the individual with a disability as the driving force behind all planning decisions. The goal of all person-centered planning approaches is to plan and create supports around people with disabilities that enable them to live more self-directed and satisfactory lives in the communities of their choice. Person-centered planning approaches have been used throughout the country in the field of developmental disabilities for approximately ten to fifteen years.

These approaches use different tools and strategies to accomplish their goals, but they all share some common beliefs or values. Specifically, these are:

• All approaches are driven by the individual, family and friends.
• All approaches focus on an individual's gifts and capacities.
• All approaches are visionary and future-oriented.
• All approaches are dependent upon community membership and commitment.
• All approaches emphasize supports and connections over services
• All approaches enable individualized plans to be developed.
• All approaches change services to be more responsive to individuals.