Envisioning the Future Means:
Thinking beyond the confines and parameters of today.
Focusing on the our hopes, dreams and personal
aspirations.
Roles
Role of parents as the guardian, standard bearer and
nurturer of their child’s future.
Role of parents in transferring ownership of the future to
their child.
Overview of Planning
Planning establishes blueprint for supports and services
that are the foundation of personal growth and
development.
Examples of Planning
The Individual Education Plan (IEP)
The Individual Supports Plan (ISP)
The Individual Family Services Plan (IFSP)
The Vision Statement
The vision component of a plan is a critical but overlooked
aspect of planning.
A well formulated and articulated vision serves as the
foundation for all aspects of planning.
A Vision is the Keystone of Planning
All aspects of planning are built upon the foundation of a long term vision.
Goals – Short term steps to achieving the child’s defined vision
Objectives – Steps to attaining goals
Implementation strategies and support methodology – ways in which
goals and objectives are carried out.
What a Vision Statement Does
A well constructed vision statement allows for a
consensus building framework.
It helps to define the parameters of what is negotiable
and non-negotiable.
What a Vision Statement Does (cont’d.)
A tightly defined vision statement provides firm criteria for
judging the sanity, rationality and functionality of all other
planning elements.
A vision statement is an evaluation tool for determining if your
child is moving in the desired direction.
Examples of what happens in the
absence of a well defined vision
statement:
Goals that don’t make sense.
Services that do not contribute to desired outcomes.
Wasted resources and effort.
Five Elements of a Vision Statement
Where a child is headed in terms of where, how
and with who he/she will:
1 Live
2 Learn
3 Work
4 Have and build relationships
5 Play and spend free time
Exercise-Creating a Vision Statement
5 years ago
Today
5 years from now
Living
Living
Living
Learning
Learning
Learning
Working
Working
Working
Relationships
Relationships
Relationships
Free Time
Free Time
Free Time
Defining a time frame for your child’s
vision statement.
Factors that influence the vision statement:
Age
Health
Learning
Motivation
What to do with the vision statement
once it’s created.
Packaging
Sharing it with others
Presenting to the planning/support team
Including in the planning document
Real World Examples
Parents’ experiences with creating a vision statement for
their child.
Outcomes experienced in the support planning process.
Our vision for David through the eyes of his parents:
David is currently finishing the seventh grade. He enjoys going to school to learn and
hang out with his friends! David seems to be the official greeter wherever we go. He
introduces himself and encourages others to do the same and then greets them with a
smile, high five or handshake. We believe he could be the next Mayor of our town
because he can socially work a crowd very well.
David is very active and loves most sports. He plays basketball for the Athletic Club
and his team won the championship this year. He is also a member of the track and
field team and swimming team with Special Olympics. David also enjoys riding his
bike or scooter and playing kickball and football.
This current school year for David has been very successful. All his teachers have
given very positive remarks such as how mature David has become and how much
they enjoy having him in their classroom. Most importantly, we can see David learning
so much more and sharing what he has learned with everyone around him. Training
for teachers needs to be a high priority in order to continue this successful learning
environment for David. Technology is another area in David’s education that needs to
be enhanced and ongoing. More opportunities for David to utilize his strength in
technology needs to continue. Recently, David spoke to a college class at Temple
University. He was asked, what is your favorite subject? David told them Computer
class.
…Our Vision for David, continued
This coming year will be David’s last year in Middle School. Our focus for High School
transition needs to start now to prepare for success. It is important to keep in mind the
strengths David has and utilize those strengths successfully. Adaptations for David
need to become more aligned with the curriculum and standards. David’s peers are
key to his educational success particularly as we begin to prepare for transition to
High School. We believe the relationships David has with his friends, family, teachers
and community will greatly enhance his quality of life.
The friendships he has made over the past 7 years enhances his well-being and pride.
He knows he is a successful learner and more importantly his peers and those around
him believe in his success and abilities. His peers will be the ones who he will go to
college with or work with in the community. They will have a better understanding of
the ABILITIES people have, not disabilities. He is the teacher in a lot of ways for all of
us!
Our vision for David is for him to be employed competitively in the community like his
peers. He will also live and spend leisure time like his peers. We want him to make
his own choices, which will enhance his independence. With the help from friends
family, and his community we anticipate that David will not need to depend as much
on the system to gain that independence. David will continue to move forward
achieving his personal goals because of the education he is receiving and all the
connections within his life.
Sophia Madison S.
My name is Sophia which is Greek for wisdom, but most people call me
Sophie. My family also calls me Sister. I would like to tell you about myself.
This is my vision.
I have a big brother name Alexander. He is in 1st grade. I am so excited to be
going to kindergarten at the same school next year. I will ride the bus with
my brother, just like all the kids in our neighborhood. I also have a little sister
named Helena. I call her Baby. She will be in kindergarten in 2 years.
Music is really important to me. Incorporating songs into my lessons helps
me to communicate with my peers, participate in class, and learn new
things. I am really good at using my iPad which also helps me to learn and
play. I’m a social butterfly as I enjoy being around my peers and I warm up
quickly to new friends. I am funny, kind, silly, sweet, stubborn, and I care
about how others are feeling.
…Sophia Madison S., continued
I have received early intervention services since I was a baby and these special
people play an important role in my learning. I am excited to have a new team next
year when I become a kindergartener. I will be in a regular kindergarten class with my
services pushed in. I learn best by being fully included in school and I look forward to
being included throughout my time as a student.
School is amazing! I am excited to participate in the social activities as well as the
academic ones. I want to join Girl Scouts, play sports, and have play dates with my
friends. I have a lot to give to others and it is important to me to know that I belong.
I was diagnosed with Down syndrome prenatally, which brings with it some
challenges, but my disability does not define me. I need help from my team to learn
new skills to participate in school and outside of school so I can develop to my fullest
potential. I do not need to be fixed, but accepted for who I am. My team will support
me to have a full and rich school experience filled with dignity, respect, friendships,
and learning to the best of my ability.
As I grow up I will have the same experiences as my peers. I will become a productive
member of my community in which I live, know I am loved, valued and belong.
Summary
Questions and Answers from webinar participants.