From the Desk of Karen Lee

Empowering Lives: The Power of Person-Centeredness??

At SEEC, we believe in the transformative power of person-centeredness. But what does this mean for the people we support??

?At its core, person-centeredness is about considering each person's unique hopes, dreams, and contributions to the world. It is about recognizing each person deserves not just to live, but to thrive in a way that is meaningful to them. This approach goes beyond providing support; it is about empowering people to take the lead in their own lives, to make choices, and to be heard.?

?At SEEC, the person-centered approach has been the foundation of all our innovations. This includes supporting people to live independently, helping them find fulfilling jobs in the community, using Asset Based Community Development approaches to promote inclusion, and encouraging the use of assistive technology driven by each person’s needs and preferences.??

For this next fiscal year, we are embarking on a self-reflective journey to ensure our hiring, our training, and our supports truly reflect the principal and practices of person-centeredness for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and how we can go further to offer the best supports. We are partnering with a subject-matter expert, Nick Burton, to guide and assist us. You will find an interview with him about his work at SEEC in the upcoming Inclusion Insider. In the meantime, below is a preview into what Person-centeredness means for the people we support.?

Acknowledging Each Person's Uniqueness?

Person-centeredness is about recognizing the unique dreams, hopes, and talents of each person. It is not just about taking care of someone—it is about empowering them.??

Equity in Action?

We champion equity over equality. This means tailoring our support to each person's unique needs, ensuring everyone can thrive in their own way.?

Putting You in the Driver's Seat?

Imagine having every decision about your life made by someone else. Person-centeredness changes this traditional disability service narrative, putting the people we support in control of their own journey.?

Building Trust, Embracing Risk?

To truly empower, we must build trust with each person and embrace the concept of "dignity of risk. " This means supporting a person’s right to make choices, take risks, and learn from experiences—just like everyone else.?

A Culture of Collaboration?

At SEEC, we are committed to working closely with the people we support, their families and personal network, as well as our community to create an environment where person-centered thinking is at the heart of everything we do.?

The Path Forward?

By putting the people we support first, seeing and hearing their needs, and supporting their choices, we're not just providing services—we're partnering with them to achieve the life they want to live.?

By supporting SEEC, you'll gain an insider's perspective on our mission and recent innovations so if you haven’t done so, please donate to SEEC today!?

Cheers,

Karen Lee, CEO

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