How to Read and Use Your Loved One’s ISP: A Guide for Arizona DDD Families

If your loved one receives services through Arizona’s Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), you’ll hear one term again and again: the ISP, or Individual Support Plan. It’s one of the most important documents in your loved one’s care—yet for many families, it can feel dense, technical, and easy to set aside after the meeting ends.

It shouldn’t be. Your ISP is your roadmap. When you understand it and use it well, it becomes a powerful tool for making sure your loved one gets the right support, works toward meaningful goals, and is treated with the dignity and independence they deserve.

This guide explains what an ISP is, what’s inside it, how the planning process works, and how to make the document work for your family all year long.

What Is an Individual Support Plan (ISP)?

An Individual Support Plan (ISP) is the written plan that guides the services and supports a person receives through DDD. It captures who your loved one is, what they want for their life, the support they need, and the specific services that have been authorized to help them get there.

The ISP is built through person-centered planning—an approach that places your loved one, their preferences, and their goals at the center of every decision. Rather than starting with a list of programs and fitting the person into them, person-centered planning starts with the person and builds support around them.

In short: the ISP turns your loved one’s goals into an actionable, documented plan that everyone on the care team follows.

Note: For very young children in early intervention (birth to age 3), the equivalent document is typically an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), which focuses on supporting the whole family. This guide focuses on the ISP.

What’s Inside an ISP?

Every plan is unique, but most ISPs include the following elements. Knowing what to look for makes the document far less intimidating:

• Personal information and a profile of your loved one—their strengths, preferences, and what’s important to them and for them.
• A vision or goals section describing what your loved one wants to work toward, whether that’s greater independence, new skills, friendships, employment, or community involvement.
• Identified needs—the areas where support is required, from daily living and health to communication and safety.
• Authorized services and supports—the specific services approved for your loved one (such as in-home support, habilitation, respite, or attendant care), including how much and how often.
• Who provides each service—the Qualified Vendors and team members responsible for delivering support.
• Responsible parties and timelines—who does what, and by when.

When you read your ISP, you’re essentially reading the agreed-upon plan for your loved one’s care. If something important to your family isn’t reflected in it, that’s worth raising.

Who’s on the Planning Team?

The ISP isn’t written for you—it’s created with you. The planning team typically includes:

• Your loved one, whose voice should be at the center of the plan
• Family members or guardians who know them best
• The DDD Support Coordinator, who facilitates the process and coordinates services
• Service providers, who contribute insight into day-to-day support
• Other advocates or professionals your family chooses to include

You are a full and equal member of this team. Your knowledge of your loved one is invaluable, and you have every right to ask questions, share concerns, and request changes.

How Often Is the ISP Reviewed?

An ISP is reviewed and updated on a regular basis—generally at least once a year—to make sure it still reflects your loved one’s needs and goals. Life changes, and the plan should change with it.

You don’t have to wait for the annual meeting, though. If your loved one’s needs shift, a new goal emerges, or a service isn’t working, you can ask your Support Coordinator to revisit the plan. The ISP is meant to be a living document, not a form filed away once a year.

How to Prepare for Your ISP Meeting

A little preparation turns the ISP meeting from something that happens to you into something you help lead. Before the meeting:

1. Review the current plan. Note what’s working, what isn’t, and what’s changed since last time.
2. Talk with your loved one. Ask about their goals, frustrations, and what they’d like more (or less) of. Their voice should drive the plan.
3. Make a list of goals and priorities. Think short-term and long-term—skills, independence, health, social connections, employment.
4. Document concerns with specifics. Instead of “respite isn’t enough,” note why, when, and what would help. Concrete examples lead to better outcomes.
5. Write down your questions in advance so nothing gets forgotten in the moment.
6. Bring relevant records if a medical, behavioral, or developmental update supports a change you’re requesting.

The more clearly you can describe what your loved one needs and wants, the more effectively the team can build a plan to support it.

How to Use Your ISP After the Meeting

The plan only works if it’s used. Once your ISP is finalized:

• Keep a copy accessible and refer back to it throughout the year.
• Share relevant goals with your providers so everyone is working toward the same outcomes.
• Track progress on goals and note what’s working and what isn’t—this becomes valuable input for the next review.
• Speak up when something changes. If a service isn’t meeting your loved one’s needs, contact your Support Coordinator rather than waiting for the annual meeting.
• Use it to hold the plan accountable. Services authorized in the ISP are what your loved one is entitled to receive—the document is your reference point.

Frequently Asked Questions About the ISP

What’s the difference between an ISP and an IEP? An ISP is your loved one’s plan for DDD services and supports. An IEP (Individualized Education Program) is a separate plan specific to special education services within the school system. A person may have both, and ideally the two complement each other.

Can I request changes to the ISP? Yes. You’re a member of the planning team and can request changes—at the annual review or whenever your loved one’s needs change. Contact your Support Coordinator to start the conversation.

What if I disagree with something in the plan? Raise it with your Support Coordinator. Families have rights within the DDD process, including avenues to formally appeal certain decisions. Your Support Coordinator can explain the options available to you.

Who keeps a copy of the ISP? The planning team and your providers work from the plan, and you should always have your own copy. Don’t hesitate to ask for one if you don’t have it.

Does my loved one have to attend the ISP meeting? Person-centered planning is built around your loved one’s voice, so their participation is encouraged and valued in whatever way works best for them.

Your ISP Works Best With the Right Provider Behind It

A strong ISP is only as effective as the team carrying it out. The right provider doesn’t just deliver authorized services—they understand your loved one’s goals, communicate with you throughout the year, and help make the plan a living reality rather than a document on a shelf.

At LFC, we partner closely with families and Support Coordinators to deliver compassionate, person-centered in-home and residential services that bring each ISP to life. If you have questions about your loved one’s plan or want a provider who treats their goals as our mission, we’re here to help. Contact us today to learn more.