smull_articles

Michael W. Smull, Mary Lou Bourne, & Helen Sanderson

A variety of agencies in many different locations have engaged with us in a set of efforts that have evolved over time. At each location the goal has been consistent: to create person centered systems that support person directed services. The learning that has taken place from working toward that goal has changed the approach. What follows is a brief overview of the evolution of the approach and the key lessons learned. Because this is a brief overview, much is left out and will be described in subsequent publications. Some of the central ideas of the effort are:

 Changes in rules and practice should be driven by learning what is and is not working in supporting individuals.
 Using a small set of value-based skills at all levels of the system will drive change throughout the system.
 Using these skills in conjunction with selected quality management and organizational development tools will improve quality of life and increase organizational effectiveness and efficiency.

.pdf

128kb

04/2009

Crisis in the Community

Burgeoning waiting lists, rising service costs, growing concerns about the quality of services, tight state budgets, high community worker turnover. These problems are surfacing In a growing number of state developmental disabilities service delivery systems.

.pdf

81.2 KB

02/1989

A Crisis is Not An Excuse

In a crisis culture there is no time for thought about real solutions, and the cycle of having today’s temporary solutions adding to tomorrow’s crises is maintained.

.pdf

124 KB

Listen, Learn, Act

Selected Writings by Michael W. Smull on Essential Lifestyle Planning, Self-Determination, and Organizational Change. Includes the following articles: Person Centered Planning: Should We Do It With Everyone?; The Importance of Partnerships; Before You Plan;
The Structure of the Plan; A Plan Is Not An Outcome; After the Plan; Changing from Programs to Supports; Thinking About the Roles of the Support Broker; Some Characteristics of a System of Support; and, Some Thoughts from the Field: Invited Commentary on Articles
on Self-Determination

.pdf

468 KB

01/2000

Positive Rituals and Quality of Life

We give daily rituals and habit scant conscious attention as they ease us through our days. Perhaps it is the absence of conscious attention that has led us to neglect the role of ritual in the quality of life of people with disabilities.

.pdf

28kb

04/1993

Volviendo a Visitar La Opción
Parta 1 y

Parta 2

"La opción" él la palabra más poderosa y el la mayoría abusó la palabra en el léxico actual del sistema de
servicio de incapacidadess.

.pdf

28kb

20kb

07/2000

Volviendo a Visitar La Opción
Parta 1 y

Parta 2 (two documents)

"La opción" él la palabra más poderosa y el la mayoría abusó la palabra en el léxico actual del sistema de
servicio de incapacidadess.

.pdf

28kb

20kb

07/2000

Revisiting Choice Parts 1 and 2 (single document)

Choice is the most powerful word and the most abused word in the current lexicon of the disabilities services system. For some people choice means that how they want to live has been discovered and carefully supported. For others choice is an excuse or the basis of a bizarre rationalization.

.pdf

164kb

08/1995

Thinking About Support Broker Roles

Article from Impact newsletter, 1999

.doc

34kb

1999

Name	Description	Type	Size	Date
Becoming a Person Centered System	Michael W. Smull, Mary Lou Bourne, & Helen Sanderson A variety of agencies in many different locations have engaged with us in a set of efforts that have evolved over time. At each location the goal has been consistent: to create person centered systems that support person directed services. The learning that has taken place from working toward that goal has changed the approach. What follows is a brief overview of the evolution of the approach and the key lessons learned. Because this is a brief overview, much is left out and will be described in subsequent publications. Some of the central ideas of the effort are:  Changes in rules and practice should be driven by learning what is and is not working in supporting individuals.  Using a small set of value-based skills at all levels of the system will drive change throughout the system.  Using these skills in conjunction with selected quality management and organizational development tools will improve quality of life and increase organizational effectiveness and efficiency.	.pdf	128kb	04/2009
Crisis in the Community	Burgeoning waiting lists, rising service costs, growing concerns about the quality of services, tight state budgets, high community worker turnover. These problems are surfacing In a growing number of state developmental disabilities service delivery systems.	.pdf	81.2 KB	02/1989
A Crisis is Not An Excuse	In a crisis culture there is no time for thought about real solutions, and the cycle of having today’s temporary solutions adding to tomorrow’s crises is maintained.	.pdf	124 KB
Listen, Learn, Act	Selected Writings by Michael W. Smull on Essential Lifestyle Planning, Self-Determination, and Organizational Change. Includes the following articles: Person Centered Planning: Should We Do It With Everyone?; The Importance of Partnerships; Before You Plan; The Structure of the Plan; A Plan Is Not An Outcome; After the Plan; Changing from Programs to Supports; Thinking About the Roles of the Support Broker; Some Characteristics of a System of Support; and, Some Thoughts from the Field: Invited Commentary on Articles on Self-Determination	.pdf	468 KB	01/2000
Positive Rituals and Quality of Life	We give daily rituals and habit scant conscious attention as they ease us through our days. Perhaps it is the absence of conscious attention that has led us to neglect the role of ritual in the quality of life of people with disabilities.	.pdf	28kb	04/1993
Volviendo a Visitar La Opción Parta 1 y Parta 2	"La opción" él la palabra más poderosa y el la mayoría abusó la palabra en el léxico actual del sistema de servicio de incapacidadess.	.pdf	28kb 20kb	07/2000
Volviendo a Visitar La Opción Parta 1 y Parta 2 (two documents)	"La opción" él la palabra más poderosa y el la mayoría abusó la palabra en el léxico actual del sistema de servicio de incapacidadess.	.pdf	28kb 20kb	07/2000
Revisiting Choice Parts 1 and 2 (single document)	Choice is the most powerful word and the most abused word in the current lexicon of the disabilities services system. For some people choice means that how they want to live has been discovered and carefully supported. For others choice is an excuse or the basis of a bizarre rationalization.	.pdf	164kb	08/1995
Thinking About Support Broker Roles	Article from Impact newsletter, 1999	.doc	34kb	1999