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If your loved one receives services through Arizona’s Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), you’ll hear one term again and again: the ISP<\/strong>, or Individual Support Plan. It’s one of the most important documents in your loved one’s care\u2014yet for many families, it can feel dense, technical, and easy to set aside after the meeting ends.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n An Individual Support Plan (ISP)<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n The ISP is built through person-centered planning<\/strong>\u2014an 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.<\/p>\n In short: the ISP turns your loved one’s goals into an actionable, documented plan that everyone on the care team follows.<\/p>\n Note:<\/strong> For very young children in early intervention (birth to age 3), the equivalent document is typically an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)<\/strong>, which focuses on supporting the whole family. This guide focuses on the ISP.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Every plan is unique, but most ISPs include the following elements. Knowing what to look for makes the document far less intimidating:<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The ISP isn’t written for<\/em> you\u2014it’s created with<\/em> you. The planning team typically includes:<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n An ISP is reviewed and updated on a regular basis\u2014generally at least once a year<\/strong>\u2014to make sure it still reflects your loved one’s needs and goals. Life changes, and the plan should change with it.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n A little preparation turns the ISP meeting from something that happens to<\/em> you into something you help lead. Before the meeting:<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The plan only works if it’s used. Once your ISP is finalized:<\/p>\n What’s the difference between an ISP and an IEP?<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n Can I request changes to the ISP?<\/strong> Yes. You’re a member of the planning team and can request changes\u2014at the annual review or whenever your loved one’s needs change. Contact your Support Coordinator to start the conversation.<\/p>\n What if I disagree with something in the plan?<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n Who keeps a copy of the ISP?<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n Does my loved one have to attend the ISP meeting?<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n A strong ISP is only as effective as the team carrying it out. The right provider doesn’t just deliver authorized services\u2014they 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.<\/p>\n At LFC<\/strong>, 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<\/a> to learn more.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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\u2014yet for many […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1184,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[16,15,17],"class_list":["post-1182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-ahcccs","tag-ddd","tag-services"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingfountcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingfountcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingfountcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingfountcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingfountcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1182"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/livingfountcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1182\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1189,"href":"https:\/\/livingfountcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1182\/revisions\/1189"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingfountcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1184"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingfountcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingfountcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingfountcare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}What Is an Individual Support Plan (ISP)?<\/h2>\n
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What’s Inside an ISP?<\/h2>\n
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Who’s on the Planning Team?<\/h2>\n
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How Often Is the ISP Reviewed?<\/h2>\n
How to Prepare for Your ISP Meeting<\/h2>\n
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How to Use Your ISP After the Meeting<\/h2>\n
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Frequently Asked Questions About the ISP<\/h2>\n
Your ISP Works Best With the Right Provider Behind It<\/h2>\n