In Pursuit of the Good Life Across the Lifespan

All people have the right to live, love, learn, work, play, and pursue their life aspirations just as others do in their community.

How do I create a vision for a good life?
How do I engage in future planning?
How do I know about and understand all the different resources available in the community?

If these questions resonate with you, then learning about Charting the LifeCourse may be of interest. The Charting the LifeCourse Nexus (CtLC) Framework can make the vision statement above a reality for all of us – and all of you!

We in Massachusetts adopted the beliefs and values of this framework for a simple reason: it provides both foundational principles and values to engage in family and person-centered thinking approaches. As a result, the tools and resources will support individuals and families in developing a vision to pursue full and rich lives engaged in community life. This framework lends itself towards transforming service systems by supporting use of a universal language and common planning approaches to help individuals and families live good lives.

To learn more about the Frameworks and Tools, view these introductory videos by Sonja Stewart and DDS Commissioner Jane Ryder.

Think about how the Charting the LifeCourse Framework and Tools can help you achieve your vision for a good life.

In the videos below, you will earn how Massachusetts individuals, families, and professionals are using the frameworks and tools in their work. The videos you see here were developed by the Department of Developmental Services, The Arc of Massachusetts, and Quillo.

If you would like to go deeper in person-centered planning, we encourage you to visit the Tools for Tomorrow page and download our future planning guide.

Click here to subscribe to the CTLC MA YouTube channel.

The Department of Developmental Services has committed to the integration and use of the Charting the LifeCourse framework to support individuals and families across the lifespan. The frameworks and tools also closely mirror The Arc of Massachusetts MA 21: 21st Century Policy. Other agencies have also participated in trainings on CtLC, including the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Public Health, and Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission.

CtLC offers a comprehensive array of concrete tools focused on providing person-centered supports within the context of a person’s family and community. These tools promote taking a holistic view at how individuals and families can foster and establish more integrated supports that support their definition of a “good life.”

Key elements of the Charting the LifeCourse Frameworks include:

Thinking about the individual and family across life stages and domains

Thinking about a person within the context of their family and community

Looking beyond eligibility specific supports to integrate supports provided through community resources, relationships, and technology

These frameworks and tools were developed at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Institute for Human Development (UMKC-IHD). More information about Charting the LifeCourse framework and tools can be found at lifecoursetools.com.