Using person-centered planning to determine employment preferences among people with the most severe developmental disabilities

This paper provides an overview of how person-centered planning principles and practices can be used within supported employment programs to provide work-related preferences and choices for people who have the most severe developmental disabilities. The importance of using person-centered practices in job assessment and development activities is discussed and a summary of the applied research on assessing preferences and providing choices for people with the most severe disabilities is presented. Findings within the research indicate people with even the most significant disabilities have distinct preferences. Additionally, providing systematic choice opportunities to access preferred activities has been shown to enhance skill acquisition, productivity and general enjoyment among individuals who have severe disabilities. Implications of the research findings for supported employment personnel are summarized, with an emphasis on different means of incorporating individually tailored choice opportunities within job assessment practices to ensure developed jobs match employees' vocational preferences.