Project Description:
The Institute on Person Centered Practices is a collaborative partnership between the Center on Disability Studies at The University of Texas at Austin and the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University. The Institute provides training and technical assistance on person centered practices for a broad range of audiences and organizations including: people with disabilities, family members, providers of HCBS services, managed care organizations, educators, adult protective services and the Texas workforce commission.
Federal regulations require the development of a person centered plan for people receiving Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). These services must be provided to all people regardless if they are provided through a State Medicaid Plan or through Waiver Services. This requirement has greatly escalated the need for training on person-centered practices for managed care organizations, regional and private providers of HCBS services throughout Texas as well as other States. Requests for training on person centered thinking and planning greatly increased to meet the demands generated by the federal rule requirements. In addition, people who receive services and their families need training on person-centered practices to ensure they are equal partners in the planning process. It is important to note that other organizations that provide services and supports for people that are not under the Federal Rule requirement also request training on person centered practices from the Institute.
Overall Goals:
The purpose of the Institute is to provide training on person centered practices including plan development for people receiving services, family members and the organizations that provide those services. The Institute's fundamental founding principle is to support people to get better lives as they define them.
Now in its fourteenth year, the Institute works intentionally to revise and develop a curriculum to ensure person centered practices are relevant and apply to numerous groups of people receiving services in their communities. These groups include people with Intellectual Disabilities (ID), older people, people with mental illness, people who are abused or neglected, children, and students receiving special education services.
The Institute has developed new partnerships to ensure revisions to the training curriculum apply to that specific population of people receiving those services. To ensure sustainability, Institute Mentors work to certify trainers within the partner organizations.
Unusual Features:
The Institute has a long-standing relationship with the Learning Community on Person Centered Practices. The curriculum and materials on person centered thinking and planning originate with the Learning Community's work. Some of the curriculum materials are reflected in recommendations from Federal and State agencies as standard best practices.
The Institute has 2 Mentor Trainers certified by the Learning Community that support initiatives to promote person-centered practices within their scope of work. Mentor Trainers have opportunities to embed certified trainers within numerous organizations to impact long-term sustainability.
Expected Benefits:
The Institute strategically works to develop materials that influence the lives of a broad range of people receiving services and supports to live in their communities. Further, the Institute is intentionally planning with new partners to embed person-centered practices within the fabric of these organizations to ensure the people receiving services get the lives they desire.
The Institute also serves as the lead organization to plan an annual Gathering of certified trainers and other interested people from Oklahoma and Kansas to learn about national trends, partnerships and creative training methods to present person centered skills. In addition, the Institute founded a Community of Practice represented by 60 Person Centered Thinking trainers all certified by Institute Mentors. The purpose of the Community of Practice is to bring together certified trainers representing agencies, provider, family members and people with IDD to develop a network of trainers with a unified purpose and support.
Funding for 2024-2025 $13,892.00
--------- ACTIVTIES ----------
IPCP - Person-Centered Thinking Training and presentations
*** SURVEYS ***
Texas Gathering
44 people attended
33 Professionals
5 Individuals with Disabilities
6 Family members
Satisfaction - 28 surveys received
19 Strongly agreed
9 Agreed
"What did you find helpful about this event?" Comments
All the speakers and gaining knowledge on new topics.
Subject matter experts, presenting and connecting with community partners. Great venue, great space, IT equipment, and hospitality.
I enjoyed networking with other trainers and people with lived experiences. It was helpful to hear about upcoming changes.
Learning marketplace and sharing experiences/stories. Learning from others.
Open collaboration and learning marketplace
9 presentations
206 Surveys Received
165 Professionals
21 Family Members
20 other students
Satisfaction
156 Strongly agreed
50 Agreed
0 Disagreed
0 Strongly Disagreed
**Comments**
Conference Presentations: what did you find most helpful about the training
The perspective of a self advocate.
To ask other people what they are feeling and listen to them.
Real successfull lived experienced
The one page examples
Looking at things from the student's point of view
Organization of the information punctuated with personal stories
Three- 3 hour trainings of Person Centered Planning and the Dignity of Risk
171 people surveyed
148 Professionals
13 Family Members
8 Individuals with a Disability
Satisfaction
80 Strongly Agree
15 Agree
0 Disagree
0 Strongly Disagree
**Comments "What was most helpful?"**
Examples from another person's/parent's perspective, Ms. Aimee did an awesome job at keeping the course on task and engaging parents and our kids.
Anectodal experiences shared by Aimee, one pager for IEP meeting
Just writing things down about me
Creating a trajectory plan for life goals
I learn to have the best life or a job
This event gave a better example and help to see my own vision that I want in the future
The interaction and first hand experience
First hand accounts of what an individual with special needs may or may not experience and how to shift focus to being more inclusive and empowering.
Area of Emphasis
Quality Assurance, Education & Early Intervention, Employment-Related Activities, Quality of Life
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, General Public
