Valued Life Experience 4: Being Respected

Being respected means that you are respected as a whole person whose history, capacities, and future are worthy of attention and whose gifts lead to valued social roles.

Person-Centered work should create opportunities to share ordinary places and activities with other citizens, neighbors, classmates, and co-workers and to ensure that respect as a whole person.

Too often, the planning focuses solely on the person’s limitations and the identification of what a person cannot do instead of what the person can do.  

In contrast, meet Jerry who has a number of valued roles in his community Jerry’s story clearly illustrates this concept of contribution in the many roles which have been created with his involvement and that of a staff person who supports him.