What Is Charting the LifeCourse and Who Is It For?

Updated

Charting the LifeCourse is a framework and set of tools, developed by parents, to help people with disabilities and their families plan, communicate, and problem-solve about what matters to them. It is intended for families, educators, and anyone who supports a person with a disability. The Institute on Community Integration (ICI) at the University of Minnesota offers free online workshops on the framework and tools for families, educators, and anyone interested in learning about them.

What the framework is designed to do

According to ICI, Charting the LifeCourse was created by parents to support the people they love in living a good life. Its tools are meant to help a person and their family:

  • Plan around what matters to the person
  • Communicate their vision with others
  • Problem-solve when questions or barriers come up
  • Explore and share a vision of a good life

The emphasis is on centering the voices, goals, and dreams of people with disabilities as they plan for school, life, and decision-making.

Who it is for

ICI describes the framework as useful for:

  • Families, including parents planning alongside their child
  • Educators supporting students with disabilities
  • Anyone interested in learning the framework and tools

If you support a person with a disability in planning for school, daily life, or decisions, the framework is aimed at you.

The free ICI workshops

ICI states that this fall it is offering free online workshops on the Charting the LifeCourse framework and tools. Each workshop is described as offering practical strategies, tools, and real-life examples to help center the voices, goals, and dreams of people with disabilities.

To take part, use ICI's Charting the LifeCourse page to learn more and register. ICI does not state eligibility restrictions or a cost beyond describing the workshops as free, so confirm details on the registration page before planning around a specific session.

How it fits into ICI's wider work

Charting the LifeCourse sits within ICI's broader portfolio, which the site organizes into areas including Early Childhood, Educational Policy & Practice, Community Living & Employment, and Global Disability Rights & Inclusion. The same site highlights related work such as a brief on employing workers with disabilities, which argues that inclusive hiring practices benefit people with disabilities, employers, and the economy.

A concrete example of use

Consider a family whose child is finishing high school and exploring work and further study. Using the LifeCourse tools, the family can write down what the young person wants, talk it through with educators and support staff, and work out steps toward those goals together. The point is not a fixed plan but a shared, person-centered way to keep the conversation moving.

Where to start

  1. Go to ICI's Charting the LifeCourse page to read about the framework and tools.
  2. Register for a free online workshop if you want practical strategies and examples.
  3. Bring the tools to your next planning conversation with the person, their family, or their school team.

For background on the institute itself, see ICI's main site at ici.umn.edu.