By Nicholas Kaasa | The Arc Oregon
You can change your ISP at any time
The Individual Support Plan (ISP) is a living, breathing document. This means that it can and should change with you. After all, life is change! We all have new experiences that help us understand what we want or do not want in our lives. We all grow, learn, and change over time. Even our needs can change over time. Life can also be unexpected, and things may come up that cause us to change our plans.
Because of this, no one can accurately plan out the next year of their life. Planning must happen annually but it’s also ongoing. We adjust and shift our plans as needed. That is why it is important that the ISP shift and change when needed throughout the plan year.
Changes can be big or small. If a small update is needed, such as adjusting one of your Desired Outcomes (or the “goals” in your plan), you may just need to make a quick call or send a quick email to your Services Coordinator or Personal Agent (SC/PA). If a larger change is needed, such as changing the way you are supported from day to day, you should still start by reaching out to your Services Coordinator or Personal Agent (SC/PA). They can help to bring your planning team back together to make this change with you. Once the team has had a chance to meet and discuss if everyone involved can support the needed changes the SC/PA will complete a change form.
The ISP planning process is one that takes change into account. Your plan can be changed at any time! The change form helps us document when these changes happen.
Tips for Advocates
If you have an ISP, the suggestions below are for you!
- Have you looked at your ISP? You have a right to your plan!
- If there’s anything in your plan that you don’t understand, your Service Coordinator or Personal Agent can help make sure everything makes sense. You have a right to understand your plan!
- Is there anything that you want to add? Things can be added to your ISP at any time! This includes new ideas, goals, and support.
- Is there anything that is not working well in your plan? Your ISP can change at any time! Let your Services Coordinator or Personal Agent know if things are not working well for you.
Tips for Teams
If you are a provider, family, or friend supporting someone in the planning process, the suggestions below are for you!
- Have proactive conversations. How will you connect with the team about a needed change? Who will fill out the change form? How will you make sure everyone knows and understands their role in supporting the person? Remember, the hardest time to try to figure out HOW to make a change is during the change itself.
- Pay attention to the person’s perspective. What are they telling you about how the plan is or is not working for them. Remember, not everyone communicates using words. Pay attention to all the ways someone communicates their perspective.
- For most types of changes, anyone on the planning team can get the conversation started. Review page #48 of the ISP instruction manual for detailed information about different types of changes, who can make different changes, and which changes require approval or notification only.
- Want to learn more? Watch the ISP change form webinar!
Tips for Services Coordinators/Personal Agents
If you facilitate the ISP planning process, the tips below are for you!
- Does the person know their ISP can change at any time? If you are planning with a child, does the family know the plan can be updated at any time? Notice, the question is not “did you mention it” or “or did you tell them.” There is a lot of information that is shared during planning conversations and meetings.
- Talk about making changes throughout the plan year. Be concrete- how can the person or family reach out to you if they are wanting to make a change? What are examples of changes that a person or family might want to make during the plan year?
- While it may take some work to update the ISP, it is a sign of a healthy and active plan. Consider your own life- what if you had to plan out the entire next year of your life at one time? How would you feel? What thoughts come up?