Session 1 - Goal setting

The Three Goal Model

The Three Goal Model helps you to categorise your goals.

Fundamental goals are our values, hopes, and life-long priorities for our son or daughter. For example,

  • For Jade to have the same educational opportunities as my other children.
  • For Ben to be confident and able to advocate for his own needs.
  • For Salam to have a strong and loyal network of friends.

Functional goals help your child to improve their ability to do activities and tasks that are needed in their day-to-day lives. They can be short- or long-term. For example,

  • Jamal to develop age-appropriate spoken language.
  • Phoebe to go to sleep without being held.
  • Harper to walk independently.

Symptom-specific goals aim to relieve symptoms or provide answers to more immediate concerns. For example,

  • To manage Chloe’s repeated middle ear infections.
  • To help Aaron hear better in noisy places.
  • To improve Blair’s balance so he doesn’t trip so much.

It is usually easier to think about symptom-specific and functional goals than it is to think about fundamental goals. However, if you start by identifying your fundamental goals, they will guide your thinking about your other goals.

Fundamental goals are broad and consider the child’s possibilities for a full and rewarding life.

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