Making Choices for Community Living - A Guide for Self Planning
by M. Malcolm Jeffreys and Peter Sproul for the Windsor Community Living Support Services

Making Choices is a personal planning resource which was developed to guide in the preparation of individual plans and strategies that will work to strengthen the security and quality of life of a person with a developmental disability. It is also about the role that any person can play in assisting someone to plan for a more secure future.
Making Choices does not depend on professionals being involved, rather it encourages bringing together the people who are most involved in the individual's life, their "circles of support". Any grouping of concerned people can form this "person centered" team. How to select and involve the best supports is discussed in detail, and emphasis is placed on exploring "other connections" who may be able to assist. This manual encourages the user to "Don't rule anyone out!" Such a group has the potential to increase opportunities and safeguards for an individual, regardless of the amount of direct support he/she receives. A "circle of support" empowers a person with a disability to make meaningful contributions to the community.
The guide is designed to encourage "personal choices" and the individual's involvement in each stage of the development of the plan. Strategies are provided to ensure the full and meaningful participation of the individual even if he/she is not able to plan without the assistance of others. When planning for a person is unable to plan without assistance consideration should be given to: bringing together a group such as family and friends rather than one person doing the planning alone; involving the person whose plan is being discussed in every step of the process; using an assisted planning process to ensure that all members of the group participate to their fullest potential; using alternative forms of communication i.e. symbols, pictures, as well as reading the guide aloud providing explanations if needed; developing a "Planning Partnership", etc.
Making Choices is divided into three sections. The first explains how to plan for oneself and how to organize the support that will be needed while the second is about getting a job and the third is about setting up a home and being active in the community. This plain language document presents the information in an easy to understand manner which is enriched by the use of "personal stories" throughout.
Three work plans are provided.

• Work plan A - "Getting Ready" specifically outlines the type of structure that the support groups may need to set out for themselves when starting to take a course of action including who gets things started, forming a planning team, and getting to know the individual and his/her dreams/ideas/hopes.
• Work plan B - "Planning and Organizing for Employment" starts with a brain storming approach to identify a job or a career, considering who might be able to provide the help, and then moves on the putting the plan into action.
• Work plan C - "Planning and Organizing for a Home and Active Lifestyle" again uses brain storming to describe the individual's ideal home, security needs, look at how the individual can get involved in the community and then putting it all together to identifying the specific help that would be needed to live according to the person's plan.

Making Choices for Community Living - A Guide for Self-Planning, would be of assistance to any individual/family considering or involved in self-planning. The section on "Planning for a Secure Future" encourages the individual and his/her planning team to explore all their options in many areas, encouraging the team to go beyond and "Don't rule anyone ( or any option) out". The "Personal Stories" included throughout the guide are very effective, and again take you beyond what you might have thought was possible"

Available From:

Ontario Association for Community Living #403 - 240 Duncan Mill Road, Toronto, Ontario M3B 1Z4 Telephone: (416) 447-4348 Fax: (416) 447-8974 Web site: www.communitylivingontario.ca

Description of Resource: 118 page coil bound book; user friendly print & format

Approximate Price: $15.00 (Canadian)