# Questions to ask families when developing teaching and intervention plans

**If the results of a child’s assessment indicate delays or disabilities that require an IFSP or IEP,** **schedule a meeting to create an intervention plan together. Here are some questions to ask** **families during this important planning meeting.**

1. **How would the family like to see desired outcomes achieved?** Encourage the family **to identify their ideal plan for helping their child make progress toward outcomes.**

2. **Which people or agencies would be willing and able to participate, and would this** **help?** Ask families to help determine whether the participation of these people/agencies **will help their family gain the information or skills they need to enhance their child’s development.**

3. **Which teaching/intervention activities are most likely to achieve the desired** **outcome for the child?** Encourage collaborative decision-making about preferred **activities, with the family having the final decision about which ones to use.**

4. **Are the activities compatible with the family’s culture?** Before moving forward, talk to **caregivers to be sure that selected teaching/intervention activities fit with their family’s structure and values.**

5. **What resources are needed for families to participate in teaching/intervention** **activities?** Do families have access to them? You may have specific teaching/** **intervention strategies that will help caregivers provide skill practice for the child at** **home. Establish up front which resources families need to complete activities, and ensure** **that these resources are readily available to families or easy to acquire.**

6. **Will participation by any family member adversely affect another family member?** **Check that the intervention plan does not isolate any family member from the rest of their** **family or neglect any family members.** If there may be an adverse effect, is the ratio of **cost to benefit acceptable to the family?** If not, are there alternatives?

7. **How will we know when the outcome is achieved? Which evaluation activities should** **we use?** Write evaluation criteria in family-friendly language, and ensure that evaluation **activities reflect the needs and interests of the family.**

Adapted from information in Bricker, D., & Johnson, J. J. (Eds.). (2022). *AEPS®-3* *Volume 1: User’s guide*. In D. Bricker, C. Dionne, J. Grisham, J. J. Johnson, M. Macy,

K. Slentz, & M. Waddell, *Assessment, Evaluation, and Programming System for* **aepsinteractive.com** *Infants and Children, Third Edition (AEPS®-3)*. Brookes Publishing Co.