Person-centered planning is built on the idea that people have the right to make choices about their own lives. But there's an important question we should ask ourselves before concluding that someone has chosen not to work: "Have they truly had the opportunity to choose?"

A meaningful choice requires meaningful options. If someone's only experiences have been facility-based services, segregated work, or a limited range of job possibilities, it's difficult to know whether they are choosing not to pursue employment, or simply choosing from the only options they've been shown.

Creating opportunity doesn't mean persuading someone to work. It means making sure they have the chance to explore their interests, meet employers, experience different workplaces, learn from peers who are successfully employed, and discover what is possible before making an informed decision.

This week, challenge yourself and your team to think about one person you support. Ask yourselves: "What new opportunity could we create that would help this person make a more informed choice about employment?"

The answer might be a workplace tour, an informational interview, a volunteer experience, a chance to shadow someone in a job they're interested in, or simply a conversation with someone who has successfully found competitive integrated employment.

Employment First is not about replacing choice with expectation. It's about expanding opportunity so that every person's choices are infomred by real experiences rather than limited by what has always been available.

If you are interested in connecting with peers who share an Employment First mission, contact our Employment First team who can help connect you. Employment First Missouri