Focusing on What People Can Do…

The attitudes and approaches have changed over the years toward persons who require assistance to overcome problems. Less than two decades ago, health and educational professionals focused on a person’s disabilities or shortcomings. That attitude prevented people from envisioning the possible and promoted dependence.

When Listening Ear began promoting ‘choice making’ in 1981 regarding living situations for persons with disabilities and ‘self-help’ for Crisis Hotline callers, the attitude was then ‘state of the art’. Now professionals throughout Listening Ear, and its many programs, routinely focus on the person’s strengths, talents, skills, wishes, and dreams.

This approach is the foundation of ‘Person Centered Planning’. The plan of action to reach goals includes the person’s active participation and vision of what he or she would like to be or do.