Moving forward: Perspectives of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities regarding the effectiveness of Individual Support Plans

Abstract

An Individual Support Plan (ISP) is a comprehensive document that outlines a person’s goals, describes the desired support for goal achievement, and tracks the progress or changes in pursuing these goals (Herps et al., 2016). This research explored the perspectives of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) on the effectiveness of the current ISP framework. Seven adults with an IDD participated in semi-structured interviews to share their opinions, knowledge, and understanding of several aspects of their ISP and the current framework. The interview process was designed for inclusivity by tailoring it to the participant's unique needs and communication preferences. These adaptations were analyzed in the form of a Process Analysis. Further, the Process Analysis encouraged reflection on the current discourse surrounding goals, forcing one to appreciate a more rationalized notion of goals, by considering the incorporation of emotions and narratives. The shared diverse perspectives from the interview will significantly inform agencies of practical ways to enhance the ISP framework in various aspects, including goal setting and achievement, comprehension of ISPs, and access frequency. The participants' perceptions highlighted the need for an individualized approach to developing and maintaining ISPs. Their unique responses also prompted a reconsideration of the conceptualization of goals and ISPs, shifting from a structured approach to an emergent process.