Topic 1: Touchpoints of the Individual- The Five Accomplishments

The Five Accomplishments

“The five accommplishments provide a framework for assessing our ideas about the future. Increasing opportunity in the five areas of life is clearly the intended outcome of the Personal Futures Plan process.”

Reference: John O’Brien and Connie Lyle O’Brien

Empathy is a crucial component of person-centered thinking. How we view the lives of other people impacts how we treat them, their decisions, and their dreams for their life. Taking the time to understand how someone else feels about their life can impact the quality of case management services that you provide. 

We will begin by learning about The Five Accomplishments. Understanding these concepts will help you understand five important aspects of person-centered thinking and how you can be a better partner to someone as they develop their unique vision for their future.  We want to make sure that our ideas do not reinforce old patterns of isolation, rejection, powerlessness, and poor reputations. Understanding The Five Accomplishments is important as we explore and learn more about person-centered thinking. 

Will our ideas Reinforce old patterns of isolation, rejection, powerlessness, and poor reputations?

Moving away from a past characterized by:

Isolation, seclusion, and separation by location, activities, and schedule

Rejection, loneliness, always on the outside, ignored

Old stories, negative reputations, labels; negative self-fullfilling prophecies

Limited voice, restriction, lack of representation, no power

Unproductive, severely ignored, undeveloped; no resources, low expectations

Will our choices lead to relationships, dignity, choice, real contribution, and inclusion in community?

Moving toward daily experiences which include:

Community Presence- How can we increase the presence of a person in a local community life?

Community Participation- How can we expand and deepen people’s relationships?

Encouraged Valued Social Roles: How can we enhance the reputation people have and increase the number of valued ways people can contribute?

Promoting Choice- How can we help people have more control and choice in life?

Supporting Contribution- How can we assist people to develop more competencies?

Adapted by PAL (www.pal-ri.org) from Implementing Person-Centered Planning by John O’Brien & Connie Lyle O’Brien, Inclusion Press: Toronto, 1998

Success Story!

Paul- the Bee Keeper

While Paul was living at Western State Hospital, he met a couple, Valerie and Kent Williams. Valerie and Kent would come in and played music at the hospital. Once he moved out and into a staff residence, they stayed in touch and Paul started spending several weekends at a time at their home. Finally, the director of the staff residence shared with Kent and Valeria that it was getting harder and harder for Paul to come back to staffed residence. After each visit, Paul would become very upset. The director acknowledged that Kent and Valeria were spending money when Paul would come to stay and asked, if they would like to get paid for some of their expenses. Kent and Valerie already felt a connection with Paul, but they had no idea this was an option. The move to Valeria and Kent’s occurred almost 17 years ago and that’s when Paul’s good life really began.

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