Resource Link

https://sonorancenter.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/2022-10/Roadmap_ENG_FINAL.pdf

Resource Description

Introduction: "Our Futures, Our Wishes" is a planning guide for people with disabilities and their families. The document was created by the University of Arizona with help from the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council in 2018. It helps people make plans for the future. The guide was built from the real stories and needs of people with disabilities and their families.

Resource Summary

Content Summary: The guide has four main parts that help people plan for the future. It begins with a talk about why planning matters and why you should start now. The authors say that planning is a process that takes time. Change happens in life, and people need to be ready. Some things that make people start planning are: getting older, health problems, leaving school, or moving to a new place. The second part has worksheets that help people talk about their needs and wishes. There are sheets about daily activities, what brings joy, and who can help with support. The sheets help people see what a person can do alone and what they need help with. There are also sheets about finding jobs, school choices, and living with roommates. There's even a form for emergencies with space for phone numbers and health info. The third part covers money and laws. It explains ABLE accounts, which help people with disabilities save money. It also talks about how to make choices with help from others. The guide shares tips for thinking about guardianship very carefully before choosing that path. The last part shares real stories from people with disabilities and their families. These stories show how important friends and family are for a good life. The stories talk about how roles change over time and how siblings often help care for each other. They also show how people with disabilities want to be treated with respect and included. The guide ends with three profiles: Christopher and his sister Cassandra, Dirk and his sister Tracy, and Katie who teaches others about speaking up for themselves. These stories show real planning in action. Christopher wants to live with family, Dirk has a new clothing system that helps him stay independent, and Katie dreams of marriage and roommates in her future. Throughout the guide, the authors remind readers to start planning early, be flexible as things change, ask for help, and stay hopeful. They stress that good planning puts the person with a disability at the center of all choices.