ABSTRACT
There is a slow yet significant shift in the dominant model or paradigm in the field of learning disabilities. There has been a move from the medical model to the developmental model, and now a new paradigm is emerging which focuses on community membership and functional supports to enhance quality of life (Bradley 1994; Kinsella 1993). This shift requires new ways of planning with people who use services. Traditional planning processes have typically focused on what people could not do and set goals to develop competencies in these areas with the ultimate goal of increased independence. Person centred planning is a different approach rooted in the values of the new paradigm. Instead of trying to 'fix' people, through person centred planning the aim is to discover the individual's preferred lifestyle and how this can be achieved.
