Individual support planning with people with ID in The Netherlands: Official requirements and stakeholders' expectations

Introduction. - Individualized support planning (ISP) has become a key aspect of supports for people with ID and is mandated in several countries. Different stakeholders develop policies and expectations regarding ISP. In this study, we report on requirements as found in Dutch official ID policy and on the results of consultations of panels of stakeholders and experts working in the field of ID. It was intended to describe, summarize and discuss these requirements for the purpose of enhancing ISP practices. Method. - A combination of desk research of policy documents and consultation of two expert panels was performed. Results. - A variety of criteria on content, procedures, quality and person-centeredness of ISP is being used by different stakeholders. These criteria were described and summarized. Discussion. - The broad range of inconsistent requirements and sometimes conflicting expectations from different stakeholders hamper a clear conceptualization of ISP and affect the use of ISP in practice