This document explores the transformative power of listening and its impact on personal and collective change. Based on Otto Scharmer’s framework from the U.Lab edX course, it introduces four levels of listening—Downloading, Debating, Dialogue, and Collective Creativity—each unlocking deeper understanding and connection. At Level 1 (Downloading), listening reinforces existing...
Never Give Up: Assets Inc.’s Commitment to Community Life for All This inspiring document dives into the transformative work of Assets, Inc., a trailblazing organization in Anchorage, Alaska, dedicated to supporting individuals with developmental and psychiatric disabilities—especially those deemed “too difficult to serve.” For over 20 years, Assets has...
This document explores how person-centred planning can drive transformation for people with learning disabilities, aligning with the priorities of Valuing People Now (VPN). It emphasizes the shift from incremental progress to bold transformation, encouraging new roles like worker, homeowner, and contributing citizen. While person-centred thinking tools are vital...
This document explores the strategic context of person-centred planning, focusing on how it can lead to better lives for people with learning disabilities. It highlights the importance of creating environments where person-centred plans can be effectively implemented, emphasizing collaboration across specialist and mainstream services like housing, transportation, and education....
RE-Visitinjing Foumndatinops of Person Center Planninag This document dives deep into the transformative power of person-centered practices, exploring how they can foster resilience, recovery, and hope. Written by John O’Brien, it revisits the foundations of person-centered work, emphasizing its role in creating meaningful community connections and empowering individuals to...
A Guide to Meaningful Support for People with Learning Disabilities This document dives deep into the heart of what makes support for people with learning disabilities truly impactful. It emphasizes the importance of building respectful, trustworthy relationships that connect minds, hearts, and hands to foster meaningful community participation....
This document explores how person-centred planning can drive transformation for people with learning disabilities, aligning with the priorities of Valuing People Now (VPN). It emphasizes the shift from incremental progress to bold transformation, encouraging new roles like worker, homeowner, and contributing citizen. While person-centred thinking tools are vital...
SSR: Supporting Social Roles, explores a transformative approach to improving the lives of people with developmental disabilities by focusing on valued social roles. Authored by John O’Brien, it introduces the concept of a “second bottom line” for service organizations—measuring success not just by financial outcomes but by the meaningful...
Taking Person-Centered Planning Seriously: A Path to Real Change This insightful document explores the transformative power of person-centered planning in improving the lives of people with learning disabilities. Written by John O’Brien and the Breaking Boundaries in Berkshire group, it shares their hands-on experience working with four individuals...
This document, written by John O’Brien, explores the evolution and impact of TASH, an international organization advocating for the inclusion of people with significant disabilities, and its deep connection to person-centered work. It dives into the origins, practices, and values of person-centered planning, direct support, and design — approaches that...
Discovering New Stories: A Fresh Perspective on Supporting People with Severe Disabilities This insightful document, Telling New Stories by John O’Brien and Beth Mount, explores two contrasting narratives about the same individual with severe disabilities, highlighting how storytelling shapes perceptions, actions, and outcomes. The first story, told by...
The Contribution of Person-centered Planning to Care Management This document explores the transformative potential of person-centered planning in improving care management for people with disabilities. It argues that person-centered planning is more impactful when used to reshape the care management environment rather than as a routine tool for assessments...
The Importance of Choice: Empowering People with Learning Disabilities This insightful document by John O’Brien, presented at the Discovering Choice Conference, explores the critical role of choice in improving the lives of people with learning disabilities. It highlights how depersonalization, social distance, and limited engagement can negatively impact...
This thought-provoking document, “The Trouble With Person-Centered Planning” by John O’Brien, dives deep into the challenges and transformative potential of person-centered planning. It explores how this approach, when practiced authentically, can awaken a shared sense of purpose, dignity, and interdependence among people. However, the trouble lies in its...
This insightful document by John O’Brien dives deep into the challenges and opportunities within person-centred planning, a transformative approach to supporting individuals with disabilities. While widely adopted, the paper highlights the limitations of current practices, such as incoherent policies, rigid funding, and societal perceptions that hinder true inclusion. It...
Discover why John O’Brien and Jack Pearpoint, passionate advocates for inclusion, have chosen not to create digital templates for MAPS and PATH, two person-centered planning tools. In this thoughtful piece, they compare the process of facilitating MAPS and PATH to hosting a meaningful dinner party—emphasizing the importance of personal...
Community Engagement: A Path to Inclusion and Self-Determination This insightful document by John O’Brien explores the critical role of community engagement in empowering people with disabilities and their families to live with dignity, security, and as active contributors to society. It highlights the urgent need for individualized funding,...
“Reflections on in Control – 2: Lessons for National Implementation,” explores the transformative impact of the in Control initiative on UK social care policy. Focused on self-directed support and personal budgets, it highlights how in Control has shaped national policies like “Putting People First,” emphasizing independent living, choice, and...
“Settling Down: Creating Effective Personal Supports for People Who Rely on the Residential Support Program of Centennial Developmental Services,” dives into the transformative journey of the Residential Support Program (RSP) in Weld County, Colorado. Authored by John O’Brien and Connie Lyle O’Brien, it explores how RSP shifted from group...
This document is a comprehensive guide for planning and designing spaces for human service programs, with a focus on flexibility, accessibility, and normalization. It emphasizes creating environments that meet the needs of people with disabilities while promoting integration into typical community settings. The manual provides practical tools and exercises...
This document, titled “Disturbing the Force,” summarizes a pivotal meeting held on April 11, 2001, to explore long-term strategies for improving Rhode Island’s Developmental Disabilities (DD) system. It dives into key issues shaping the future of services for people with developmental disabilities, their families, and support staff. The...
This document, “Selected US Resources on Leadership and the Activation of Citizenship,” is a curated guide by John O’Brien for the Scottish Human Services Leadership Development Team. It explores key ideas and resources to inspire leadership and active citizenship, focusing on adaptive change, social learning, and community empowerment. ...
This document explores the challenges faced by people with learning disabilities in living a “good ordinary life” amidst restrictive policies and procedures. It highlights how excessive scrutiny and rigid rules often limit their autonomy, overshadowing their voices and those of their supporters. The author emphasizes the importance of...
This document explores how national policies can create positive opportunities for people with learning disabilities to fully participate in society. It reflects on a 2005 meeting of leaders and advocates, sponsored by United Response, aimed at identifying ways to align emerging policies with the principles of inclusion and citizenship....
This document explores the concept of “most integrated” services for people with developmental disabilities, emphasizing the importance of fostering meaningful relationships between disabled and non-disabled individuals. It highlights five perspectives—legal, Social Role Valorization (SRV), positive psychology, life sharing, and social capital—to redefine integration beyond mere physical presence. The text...
This insightful document, crafted by John O’Brien, explores how communities can thrive by embracing inclusion and supporting valued experiences for all individuals, especially those with developmental disabilities. It highlights the importance of belonging, autonomy, community participation, respect, competency, and valued social roles in creating meaningful lives. Every person...
This document, authored by John O’Brien, explores the transition of Dane County’s developmental disabilities support system into Wisconsin’s Family Care managed care program. It reflects on the perspectives of local leaders—people with developmental disabilities (DD), families, advocates, and administrators—who worked to preserve the county’s innovative, community-centered approach to individualized...
This document dives into the evaluation of Partners in Policymaking, a program designed to empower individuals advocating for better life chances for disabled people. It explores why evaluation matters—addressing funder demands, accountability, program improvement, and maintaining the integrity of the Partners experience. The author emphasizes the importance of thoughtful...
Heading West: A Journey Toward Person-Centered Work This document invites readers to explore the concept of person-centered work as a pioneering journey west—a metaphor for navigating uncharted paths toward inclusion, collaboration, and meaningful change. It emphasizes the importance of staying honest and using trail markers to assess progress....
This document, “Selected US Resources on Leadership and the Activation of Citizenship,” is a curated guide by John O’Brien for the Scottish Human Services Leadership Development Team. It explores key ideas, books, and initiatives that inspire leadership and active citizenship. The focus is on adaptive leadership, social learning,...
This document, “Community Support Systems for People with Severe Mental Disabilities” by John O’Brien, explores the challenges faced by individuals with severe mental disabilities and proposes a framework for creating inclusive, community-based support systems. It highlights the social isolation, economic struggles, and vulnerability to stress experienced by this group, emphasizing...
This document, “Alternative Forms of Influence” by John O’Brien, explores innovative approaches to planning and collaboration within human services, particularly for improving conditions for people with severe disabilities. It challenges traditional linear, top-down planning methods, which often rely on comprehensive solutions and centralized authority, and instead advocates for a...
This document explores the transformative journey of the New Paths to InclUsion network, which reached a pivotal moment in November 2015 as its EU-funded cycle concluded. It reflects on the network’s efforts to foster inclusion for people with disabilities by challenging societal norms, breaking institutional barriers, and creating new...
This document explores how person-centred partnerships can transform the lives of people with learning disabilities by breaking down barriers and fostering collaboration. It highlights the challenges rooted in societal discrimination, outdated service structures, resource limitations, and lack of teamwork among stakeholders. The solution lies in creating learning cycles...
Changing the World, One Person at a Time: Reflections on the Final Session This insightful document explores how we can create positive change by focusing on generative practices at both personal and organizational levels. It emphasizes two approaches: adapting successful examples to fit our unique settings and testing...
Cultivating Capacity II: A Guide to Person-Centered Practices This fieldbook, written by John O’Brien, is a practical resource for strengthening person-centered practices, particularly for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It explores how change-makers can transform systems to better align with the interests and preferences of the people...
This document, “Reviewing Organization Capacity for Person-Centered Work” by John O’Brien, is a thoughtful guide for organizations striving to deliver truly person-centered supports for individuals with developmental disabilities. It explores the creative tension between an organization’s vision for person-centered care and its current reality, emphasizing the importance of embracing...
This document dives into “Model Coherency,” a key dimension of human service quality assessed by PASS 3, a tool developed by Wolfensberger and Glenn in 1975. It’s designed for those learning about PASS 3 in introductory workshops, emphasizing that true understanding comes from hands-on practice with a team. ...
This document, “Reviewing Organization Capacity for Person-Centered Work” by John O’Brien, is a thoughtful guide for organizations striving to deliver truly person-centered supports for individuals with developmental disabilities. It explores the creative tension between an organization’s vision for person-centered care and its current reality, emphasizing the importance of embracing...
Discovering the Dane County Difference: A Story of Social Innovation This document dives into the transformative social innovations in Dane County, Wisconsin, that have reshaped life for individuals with developmental disabilities. Over 40 years, Dane County has pioneered inclusive housing, supported employment, and self-directed services, creating opportunities for...
Discovering Community Living: Learning from Innovations in Services for People with Mental Retardation This insightful document explores the evolution of services for people with mental retardation, focusing on the shift from institutional care to community-based living. It highlights the challenges and opportunities in fostering a true sense of...
Navigating the Crooked Map Zone: A Guide to Quality in Disability Services This insightful document explores the challenges and opportunities in improving services for people with developmental disabilities. Using the metaphor of a “crooked map,” it highlights how outdated mental models and rigid service structures can lead organizations...
Two Paths to Development: A Guide to Transforming Human Services In Two Paths to Development, John O’Brien offers a thoughtful roadmap for reshaping human services to better support people with disabilities. He introduces two essential paths—detachment and creation—that leaders must navigate to foster meaningful change. The path of...
Action Learning for Quality Improvement: A Collaborative Approach to Disability Services This insightful document by John O’Brien and Connie Lyle O’Brien explores innovative strategies for improving the quality of support for people with developmental disabilities. It challenges traditional business approaches to quality improvement, emphasizing the need for dynamic, collaborative...
Adapting to Scarcity: Building a Sustainable Service System for Developmental Disabilities This insightful document explores the challenges of scarcity in services for people with developmental disabilities and offers a roadmap for creating a sustainable system. It highlights the growing waiting lists, funding shortfalls, and workforce crises that leave...
This document, authored by John O’Brien, explores the transformative power of person-centered approaches in fostering self-determination, inclusion, and community contribution for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Drawing from decades of experience, O’Brien shares stories, insights, and practical strategies to challenge societal norms and expand possibilities for meaningful employment,...
This document explores the transformative power of person-centered planning (PCP) in creating meaningful change for individuals with severe disabilities. Authored by John O’Brien, it highlights how PCP helps people live independently, work in integrated settings, and engage fully in their communities. The paper dives into various approaches to PCP,...
This document explores the evolving challenges and opportunities in creating systems that truly support people and families amidst societal shifts. It highlights key trends like political polarization, growing inequalities, resource scarcity, and shifting demographics, emphasizing the need to redefine priorities and adapt intelligently. The text delves into the...
This insightful document, What’s Worth Working For? Leadership for Better Quality Human Services by John O’Brien, explores how human services can empower people with severe disabilities to lead fulfilling lives within inclusive communities. Through real-life examples like Brian’s journey to employment, the paper highlights the transformative impact of...