Brandon's Story About MyCompass
After years of exploring needs, prototyping and testing alongside people with disabilities, families, service providers and government funders we launched a social innovation in 2017 called MyCompass Planning. MyCompass aims to humanize case management experience and transform how social service agencies plan with people served.
Brandon recently shared his story of how MyCompass Planning has helped him.
"It allows me to share that I've accomplished something with my family and staff"
Brandon is a friendly guy passionate about computers and gaming who loves to hang out with his family and black lab, Kolby. He puts his wicked tech skills to work, as a computer, tablet, and smartphone specialist, troubleshooting and solving technology bugs for people and volunteering weekly as an assistant in a computer class offered at the Learning Centre.
Brandon connected with Skills Society 7 years ago, when we were using a more ‘traditional’ planning process. Planning can often be a bureaucratic and less than enlightening experience for people with disabilities and their supports. We wanted to humanize the planning and case management experience, making it more meaningful to help people with disabilities chart the course they want towards good lives.
"I like how simple MyCompass is to use."
5 years ago we started exploring the development of MyCompass Planning, an online platform that helps people with disabilities plan together with their supports all things that make life great. Brandon was part of early conversations and planning for MyCompass, giving his feedback and insights to make the app better. Brandon now uses MyCompass as a tool in his own planning and goal setting - frequently posting pictures and other content communicating cool things that have happened, questions he has, things he’s proud of, and things he wants to try or get better at.
“It allows me to share that I’ve accomplished something...If something happens that I want my staff to know about I put it up there.”
Brandon’s statement succinctly highlights some of the core strengths of MyCompass:
It places Brandon front and centre, humanizing the planning process.
It enables Brandon to take the lead in his own planning.
It’s easy to use, meaning it actually gets used, by everyone on the team, on a regular basis.
It keeps everyone in the loop on what’s happening in Brandon’s life so he doesn’t have to worry about telling multiple people, multiple times.
Most importantly, Brandon feels listened to
MyCompass provides an easy to use platform for him to share things with his supports:
“I like how simple it is to use. How easy it is to inform my staff of what’s going on in my life....so they’re all on the same page”
And Brandon’s supports feel better able to respond to what Brandon is expressing. Being able to access the app across devices and at any time, allows them to keep up with the things Brandon wants them to know:
“Brandon can post a picture of something he is doing or ask for help and I can see it right away on the app”
Ziaul, one of Brandon’s supports
MyCompass has changed the way Brandon and his supports approach planning. Rather than being bound by rigid planning meetings that happen once or twice a year, MyCompass is flexible and adaptable, enabling Brandon and his supports to
plan and adapt as life unfolds.
Learn more about MyCompass Planning - www.mycompassplanning.com
