THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN DEVELOPING YOUR VISION AND DESIRABLE OUTCOMES FOR YOUR CHILD
HOME ENVIRONMENT
Think about where you hope your child will live throughout the school years and where he/she might live as an adult. Is there any place you would like to avoid having your child live in the future? With whom do you think your child would like to live during the school years; adult years? What skills will increase your child’s independence and interdependence in these environments? What help or supports might your child need to live in these environments.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
What type of work/workplace might your child enjoy in the future? This may be difficult to envision because it may be too far in the future. However, you might have some general idea about what work your child would enjoy and be capable of doing or supported in doing (competitive work, supported work, community service), and what type of general skills your child might need in order to be successful (communication, social, self-care, etc.)
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
What types of activities does your child enjoy doing and what might he/she enjoy doing in the community as an adult? Where might these activities take place (recreational sites, stores, restaurants, social events)? What skills will your child need to enjoy these activities (mobility, communication skills, social skills, motor skills)? What supports will your child need to enjoy these activities (attendant care, assistive technology, circle of friends; etc.)?
RELATIONSHIPS / FRIENDSHIPS
What type of relationships does your child enjoy and where might these relationships develop during your child’s school and adult life (neighborhood, regular classroom, worksite, community recreational sites, etc.)? What type of skills will your child need to have to develop and maintain these relationships? Will your child need supports to learn these skills?
OTHER OUTCOMES
What other hopes do you have for your child (safety, good health, personal choices, etc.) What skills will your child need to develop to obtain these desirable outcomes? What help will your child need now and in the future to obtain these outcomes?
PRIORITIZATION
When you have listed your desirable outcomes, it will be important to determine what outcomes are most important to your child and you. These should be the outcomes that are emphasized in planning goals for your child.