What is a Life Care Planner?
A Life Care Planner is an individual with a rehabilitation and/or medical background who has undergone extensive training in the field of Life Care Planning.
The University of Florida/Intellicus has a program that consists of 96 classroom hours and two independent study modules. The final Module involves writing a Life Care Plan that is critiqued by an experienced Life Care Planner.
The Commission on Disability Examiners Certification (CDEC) conducts the Certification Examination leading to the Certified Life Care Planner or CLCP credential. This represents the culmination of the training. Continued Certification is contingent on meeting annual continuing education requirements.
In addition to knowing how to write a Life Care Plan, the individual should have extensive knowledge of health care and outcomes of serious injuries and disease.
It is also helpful if the person has some experience in expert witness testimony.
What is a Life Care Plan?
The official definitions is:
"A Life Care Plan is a dynamic document based upon published standards of practice, comprehensive assessment, data analysis and research, which provides and organized concise plan for current and future needs with associated costs, for individuals who have experienced catastrophic injury or have chronic health care needs." From the NARPPS annual Conference, April 3, 1998.
The Life Care Plan (LCP) consists of a summary of the patient's relevant medical history. It may also contain results of vocational testing and vocational training. The plan is divided up into 18 components:
..1. Projected medical evaluations
..2. Projected therapeutic modalities
..3. Diagnostic testing/Educational assessment
..4. Wheelchair needs
..5. Wheelchair accessories and maintenance
..6. Aids for independent functioning
..7. Orthotics and prosthetics
..8. Home furnishings and accessories
..9. Drugs and supply needs
..10. Home care/attendant care
..11. Future medical care / routine
..12. Transportation
..13. Health maintenance
..14. Architectural renovations
..15. Potential complications
..16. Future medical care/non-routine
..17. Orthopedic equipment needs
..18. Vocational/Educational plan.

When is it important to involve a Life Care Planner?
For a plaintiff attorney, it is essential to involve a LCP as early as possible in a case involving a catastrophic injury or illness. In any event, most LCPís take between 6 weeks and 3 months to complete if they are to be thorough and accurate.
For defense attorneys, it is important to involve a LCP if the plaintiff's side is using one to verify the accuracy of the opposing LCP and have cost effective alternatives prepared if the plaintiff's case seems too liberal. Time to prepare or review a LCP can be significant, so it is important to involve the Planner at the earliest indication that LCP will be an issue.

What are the average costs to provide 'reasonable accommodation' for a disabled employee?
Surprisingly, most accommodations cost under $50 according to the US Govt. Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

What is the most common architectural barrier?
It may come as no surprise that stairs block most disabled persons, especially those in wheelchairs from access to goods and services. After that transportation, including mass transit, parking, and curb cuts are the most common barriers. Many of those barriers can be remedied with signage and properly applied asphalt or concrete.

What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy (OT) is a rehabilitation discipline closely related to Physical Therapy. OT's have training in working with adults and children with varied disabilities. They focus on self-care, and skills needed to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL's). OT's work in a wide spectrum of institutions, including schools, hospitals, nursing homes, vocational counseling centers and rehabilitation centers. Because of their broad knowledge base in human function, they are well suited to writing thorough Life Care Plans with proper training.