The Importance of Environment: From Toxic to Healing

by Michael Smull and Mary Lou Bourne All people respond to their environment. Whether we are happy or miserable is largely determined by what surrounds us. For happiness or even simply contentment to exist, certain things must be present and other things must be absent. What happens when we don’t have control over what is present or absent? … Read more

A Guide for Developing Strategic Objectives to Expand Self-Direction

June 2023By Valerie J. Bradley Self-direction gives people with disabilities and older adults the ability to manage the long-term services and supports that they need to live lives of their choosing. Over the past more than 25 years, the option to self-direct has become an increasing component of human services systems. The virtue of self- … Read more

Foundational Writings

Michael Smull, Susan Burke Harrison, John and Connie Lyle O’Brien , Beth Mount, Marsha and Jack Pearpoint and others have written about person-centered thinking, planning, and services and supports for some time. We consider their work from the 1980s to today to be foundational and want to make sure that they’re not lost. We have … Read more

It’s My Choice!

It’s My Choice First printed in 1988, the 2017 edition of It’s My Choice (by William Allen) has been updated and is now available and still free. The content reflects 21st Century language and thinking about services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities; and the format is designed for easier navigation and to improve usability. The concept and … Read more

I am Disabled: On Identity-First Versus People-First Language

March 20, 2015 by Cara LiebowitzIn the United States, a linguistic movement has taken hold. People-first language is considered by many to be the most respectful and appropriate way to refer to those who were once called disabled, handicapped, or even crippled. Instead of disabled person, we are urged to say person with a disability. Instead of autistic person, we should say person … Read more

Latest Issues of Resource Notes

Resource Note #117 – Texas Gathering; HSA International Event; PCT Coordinator Opening; and 30 Years of Community Living: An ACL ReportResource Note #116 – Minnesota Gathering; HSA International Learning Event; World Café October 26th; and, 30 Years of Community Living: An ACL ReportResource Note #115 – Compassion @ work training from HSA; Imagine Film Festival; … Read more

Passage of the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act

It’s midnight and the California legislature is about to adjourn for the session. Can Art and his staff at the Assembly Office of Research act in time to pass the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act? Watch and see for yourself. Produced by NorthStar Services. Video crew was Claudia Bolton, Mary Eble, and Bill Allen.

Thinking About Support Broker Roles 

 by Michael W Smull  As service systems increasingly embrace the principles and practices of self-determination and individual funding, people are looking at the roles of those who have been traditionally known as case managers or service coordinators. The expectations that many had of service coordinators in the late ’70s and early ’80s have been buried … Read more