Small milestones. Meaningful progress.

Start with what matters

What would you like to feel easier for your child? Asking for help, joining a favorite game or expressing ‘no’ may matter more to your family than a goal that sounds impressive on paper. Bring those priorities to the team and ask how they can become clear, individualized goals.

A goal should be understandable to the people living with it. Ask for an everyday example if the wording feels technical.

Bring observations, not comparisons

You can share a brief example without turning family time into a test. Note what happened, where it happened and what support your child needed.

• What did my child choose or communicate?
• Was the moment comfortable, tiring or frustrating?
• Did the skill appear with another person or in another place?
• What help was available, and what questions does that raise?

Ask how the plan will adapt

Ask the clinician how progress is reviewed, how your observations are included and what happens when a goal is not helping. A graph can prompt a useful discussion, but it should not replace an explanation you can understand.

Avoid comparing your child’s pace with a post online. If you notice a loss of skills, new distress or concerns about safety, contact the appropriate health professional instead of waiting for a routine review. The BACB’s consumer resources can also help you understand professional credentials and how to raise concerns about behavior-analytic services.