DSP Person-Centered Planning and Support 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A person-centered plan is considered 'living' because it:
- Is written in plain language anyone can read
- Gets updated regularly as the person's goals and needs change (Correct answer)
- Must be reviewed by a licensed clinician each year
- Focuses on the person's medical diagnoses
Correct answer: Gets updated regularly as the person's goals and needs change
A living plan is continuously reviewed and revised to reflect changes in the person's preferences, goals, and life circumstances.
Question 2: When a DSP notices that a support plan no longer reflects what a person wants, the BEST first step is to:
- Wait until the annual review to bring it up
- Continue following the old plan to avoid confusion
- Document the concern and notify the supervisor or care coordinator (Correct answer)
- Revise the plan independently without informing anyone
Correct answer: Document the concern and notify the supervisor or care coordinator
DSPs should document observations and alert the appropriate team member so the plan can be formally updated through proper channels.
Question 3: Which statement BEST reflects the principle of 'presuming competence' in person-centered planning?
- Assume the person cannot make decisions without testing them first
- Believe the person has the capacity to learn and contribute unless proven otherwise (Correct answer)
- Only offer choices after a cognitive assessment is completed
- Defer all decisions to the person's legal guardian by default
Correct answer: Believe the person has the capacity to learn and contribute unless proven otherwise
Presuming competence means starting with the belief that every person can grow, communicate, and make meaningful choices.
Question 4: A person's 'circle of support' in person-centered planning typically includes:
- Only paid staff and agency supervisors
- Family, friends, community members, and professionals chosen by the person (Correct answer)
- Government case managers and insurance representatives only
- Individuals assigned by the agency without input from the person
Correct answer: Family, friends, community members, and professionals chosen by the person
The circle of support is a self-selected network of people who know and care about the individual and help them achieve their goals.
Question 5: What does 'self-determination' mean in the context of disability services?
- The agency determines the best services for the person
- The person has control over decisions affecting their own life (Correct answer)
- Staff decide daily routines based on safety guidelines
- The state sets goals for individuals based on disability category
Correct answer: The person has control over decisions affecting their own life
Self-determination empowers individuals with disabilities to direct their own lives, make choices, and take responsibility for outcomes.
Question 6: During a planning meeting, a person with limited verbal communication keeps pointing to a photo of a park. A person-centered DSP should:
- Redirect attention back to the written agenda topics
- Note the behavior as a distraction in the meeting notes
- Recognize this as a preference and explore whether outdoor activities should be a goal (Correct answer)
- Ask a family member to explain what the person really wants
Correct answer: Recognize this as a preference and explore whether outdoor activities should be a goal
Non-verbal cues and expressions of interest are valid and important communications that DSPs must recognize and incorporate into planning.
Question 7: Which planning approach asks 'What is working and not working?' from multiple perspectives to improve supports?
- Positive Behavioral Support (PBS)
- PATH planning
- Essential Lifestyle Planning (ELP) (Correct answer)
- Individual Service Plan (ISP) review
Correct answer: Essential Lifestyle Planning (ELP)
Essential Lifestyle Planning (ELP) specifically gathers input from multiple people to identify what is important to and for the person and what must change.
DSP Person-Centered Planning and Support 2
A person-centered plan is considered 'living' because it: