The Circle of Support



Planning Your Future:

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A Guide to Creating and Leading

Your Personal Support Team

By

Janice L. Goforth, M.S., CRC

San Diego State University Research Foundation

Interwork Institute

Center for Emerging Leadership

© February 2007

Creation of this planning guide was partially funded

by CFDA Number 93.631 of

The United States Department of Health and Welfare,

Administration on Developmental Disabilities.

The contents of this guide do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Health and Human Services, or the Administration on Developmental Disabilities and the reader should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Acknowledgements

Marjorie F. Olney, Ph.D., CRC

Project Director

Reviewed by

Mrs. Hillary S. Page

Graduate Assistant

Center for Emerging Leadership Advisory Committee

|Rob Carley |Lucas Keller |

|Area Board XIII |CEL Peer Mentor |

|Office of the State Council | |

|on Developmental Disabilities |Rebecca Kingsley |

| |Past CEL Peer Mentor |

|Dan Clark | |

|San Diego Regional Center |Paul Mansell |

| |San Diego People First |

|Natacia Cordle | |

|CEL Graduate Assistant |Dave Noyes |

| |California Department of Rehabilitation |

|Lisa Essakow | |

|Past CEL Peer Mentor |Marjorie Olney |

| |Project Director |

|Justin Filley | |

|Past CEL Peer Mentor |Ruben Pelham |

| |CEL Peer Mentor |

|Billye Giesecke | |

|Exceptional Family Resource Center |Christopher Pirino |

| |      CEL Peer Mentor |

|Janice Goforth | |

|Project Coordinator |Jesse Rivas |

| |      CEL Peer Mentor |

|Kyle Hendricks | |

|CEL Peer Mentor |Jennifer Springfield |

| |Past CEL Peer Mentor |

|Shirley Hesche | |

|TRACE San Diego City Schools |Mary Ellen Sousa |

| |Creative Support Alternatives |

|Briana Jackson                         | |

|CEL Peer Mentor | |

With our special thanks to Ms. Ophelia McLain, Program Officer,

Administration on Developmental Disabilities, for her ongoing leadership and

commitment to excellence for people with developmental disabilities.

We would also like to acknowledge all of the Youth and Emerging Leaders who have allowed us into their lives and who have continually assisted us to improve the services we provide.

Table of Contents

Introduction…………………………………………………………………Page 5

Selecting a Formal Support Team…………………………………………. Page 6

Who is on Your Team?................................................................................. Page 7

A Snapshot of Your Life:

Your Living Situation………………………………………………. Page 8

Work/School Life…………………………………………………… Page 9

Medical Needs……………………………………………………… Page 10

Fun and Free Time………………………………………………….. Page 11

Other Needs………………………………………………………… Page 12

Planning Your First Meeting………………………………………………. Page 13

Team Meeting Record………………………………………………………Page 14

Sample Meeting Agenda…………………………………………………. . Page 15

Introduction

Everyone needs help to reach the goals and dreams that we have for our lives. This is true for both people with and without disabilities. One way of getting the help we need is to ask for support from the people who know us the best. Whether we realize it or not, we all have a group of people that we ask for advice or discuss our lives with. Often this group or “Team”, is “informal” and is made up of friends, co-workers, family members and other people that we trust.

For people with developmental disabilities it is important to bring together these people as members of a “formal support team”, that meet with you as a group to help you plan, solve problems, make decisions, and receive the services that you need and want.

Using this booklet will help you to decide who you want to have on your support team, and give you ideas and tools that will help you to create your support team, plan for your future, keep records of your team meetings, and learn how to lead your own meetings!

It is suggested that you make copies of pages 8-12 and Page 14 to use when you are planning each meeting.

You may also wish to keep these pages in a binder to have as a record of each meeting; what was discussed, who is doing what, etc…

I hope that you will find this to be useful and I am very happy to receive any comments or suggestions that will make this planning tool better.

Selecting a Formal Support Team

People that should be included on “The Team” are those from the workplace, school, home, and recreational areas of our lives.

People who know and care about you will want to see you be successful and live your life in a way that makes sense to you!

Support Team members may include:

Members of your family, friends and neighbors, teachers, co-workers, advocates, room-mates, case managers and/or service coordinators.

Your “Team” can help you with problem solving, goal setting and planning for the future, learning new things, getting information about your community, and offering support to help you be successful in the workplace, at school, and living in the community of your choice.

Who Is On Your Team?

Use the spaces below to name the people on your team.

If you do not have a team now, name some people you would like to have on your team.

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A Snapshot of Your Life Now Compared with a Snapshot of How You Want Your Life to be in the Future

Where do you live now?

In My Own Place

In My Own Place with Room-mates

In My Parent’s House

In A Group Home

In A Large Care Facility

Where would you like to live?

In My Own Place

With Room-mates

At My Parent’s House

In A Group Home

In A Large Care Facility

Stay Where I Am

What do you need to help you live where you want? (Some ideas might be: more money, training, an assistant…) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

WHERE DO YOU WORK NOW?

In a Sheltered Workshop

In the Community with a Job Coach

In the Community without a Job Coach

I am still in School

I am not Working or going to School

Where would you like to work?

In the Community without a Job Coach

In the Community with a Job Coach

In a Sheltered Workshop

I would like to go to School

I do not want to Work or go to School

What would help you to be able to work or go to school? (Some ideas might be: transportation, an assistant, assistive technology, more education, help choosing classes…)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you need any Medical Care?

Doctor

Dentist

Counselor

What kind of help might you need to make appointments? (Some ideas might be: help with schedule, calendar, personal assistant…)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What other assistance might you need? (Some ideas might be: transportation, someone to go with you to take notes…)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What do you like to do with your free time or to have fun?

Watch TV Movies or Plays

Read Listen to Music

Dancing Taking Classes

Shopping Visiting Friends

Volunteer Hobby ____________________

Sports ________________________ Other ___________________________

What NEW things would you like to do?

Watch TV Listen to Music

Dancing Movies or Plays

Volunteer Read

Shopping Taking Classes

Visiting Friends Hobby _______________________ Sports ______________________ Other ________________________

What might you need to help you do these things? (Some ideas might be: an assistant, transportation, training…)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What other things do you thing you might need help with?

Getting Medical Care Budgeting Shopping Cooking

Cleaning House Laundry Transportation

Personal Care (IHSS or Supported Living Assistance)

Personal Safety Relationships Self-Advocacy

Understanding Rights and Responsibilities

Understanding Funding Systems (SSA/SSI, etc…)

Other ______________________________________

What people or services might you need to help you with these things? 

Help creating my circle of support

Service Coordinator

Assistant/Attendant

Home support staff

Someone to answer questions

An Advocate or Attorney

Training/education ________________________________________

Other ___________________________________________________

Planning for Your First Team Meeting

You have put a lot of thought into choosing the people who will be part of your support team. You will now want to be as thoughtful in planning and leading your first Team Meeting! Following the steps below will help things to go smoothly…

➢ Decide where you want to hold your meeting. Choose a place where everyone will be comfortable.

➢ Call, write or speak with everyone you would like to have on your team to ask if they can meet with you as a member of your support team to help you with some of your personal goals.

➢ At the first meeting you might want to share information about yourself with the team members so that they know what you are doing now and what new things you might like to try.

➢ You might also want to set up some rules for this and following meetings.

Things to consider:

1. Who will run the meeting?

-You should lead the meeting, but you can have someone help you.

2. Who will take notes at the meeting?

-You will want to keep track of who was there, what was talked about and which team members said they would help you with something. Also be sure that there is a due date by which tasks will be finished. Be sure to note when the next meeting will take place and where, as well as any other people that need to be invited.

3. Ground rules that may apply.

- Only one person speaks at a time.

- Respect for everyone- don’t hurt people’s feelings!

➢ You might want to review your meeting rules at the first meeting.

➢ You can talk about anything that you wish.

➢ Decide when and where you would like to meet again.

➢ Use the “Team Meeting Record” to keep track of what happened at the meeting. Use this record to keep track of how things are going!

Team Meeting Record

Day/Date/Time of Meeting:________________________________________

Who was at the Meeting?

________________ _______________ ________________

________________ _______________ ________________

________________ _______________ ________________

________________ _______________ ________________

________________ _______________ ________________

Help Asked For Who is Helping What They Will Do By When

Next Meeting (Day/Date/Time): _______________________________________

Where the meeting will be: ____________________________________________

Others to invite: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sample Agenda for Your First Team Meeting

I. Introductions

Everyone should have a chance to introduce themselves, tell how they know you, and why they are attending the meeting.

II. A Little About Yourself

You or someone else can give a short history of your life and how you came to be where you are. You can give info about where you were born, where you went to school, where you have worked, lived, etc…

III. Share Your Dreams

What are your dreams for your life? Where would you like to live or work? Your team members can also share their vision or dreams for your future.

IV. Share Any Concerns

What are any concerns or worries that you or your team have about your future, or reaching the goals you have set?

V. Discuss Your Strengths

You and your team members can discuss the things that you like or that you are good at.

VI. Discuss Your Needs

You and your team can talk about things you would like to do or that you will need help doing.

VII. Record Your Plans

You or a team member should use the Team Meeting Record to record your plans for meeting your goals. You may have plans like going on a vacation, or learning how to budget your money, learn bus routes, etc….

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YOU

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