Research on Involving Children with Disabilities in Goal Setting

Many children with disabilities want to be part of setting their own goals, especially when it comes to school or therapy.

A study published in the journal Disability and Rehabilitation looked at how professionals can better involve children in goal setting. The researchers asked 60 experts, such as occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech therapists, what they thought.

They used a three-step process to determine what most people agreed on.

The experts in the study agreed that children should be part of setting their own goals in therapy or school. They said it’s important to make the process work for each child, based on how well they can talk, think, or stay motivated.

Even though many professionals already try to include children in goal setting, the study found that it isn’t always easy to do in practice. There’s still a need for better tools and clear guidance to help professionals put child-led approaches into action.

Understanding the Research

The researchers wanted to find out what professionals think are the best ways to involve children with disabilities or delays in setting their own goals. Since there wasn’t a clear or widely accepted method for this, the Delphi technique was chosen to gather expert opinions and build consensus.

The study included 60 experienced health professionals from nine countries and six different fields, like occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology.

To be part of the study, participants needed at least five years of experience working with children in clinical, research, or education settings.

It revealed the following insights:

• Experts strongly agreed that all children, regardless of disability or delay, should be active participants in setting their own goals.
• Only 41% said it was easy to involve children, and just 22% found it easy to access information on how to do this in practice.
• Readiness depends on developmental skills, not age. The experts agreed on signs of readiness, which included communication skills, thinking, motivation, and social-emotional development.
• Professionals need to adjust their approach to fit each child’s needs, using child-specific strategies and tools.
• Experts agreed that professionals should help guide the process and make sure everyone’s views, especially the child’s and caregiver’s, are considered.
• They also agreed that children who can communicate in any reliable way should be included in goal setting, even if they are non-verbal.

Practical Strategies for Parents and Caregivers

Although teachers and therapists are key in supporting child-led goals, parents and caregivers are just as important. You know your child best — their abilities, challenges, and what motivates them.

Here are simple ways you can support your child’s involvement in goal setting:

Allow your child to share what matters to them

Instead of trying to guess what matters most to your child, consider asking them directly.

Open-ended questions like “What’s something you’d like to get better at in school?” or “Is there anything that feels frustrating right now?” can give them space to reflect and express themselves using their own words.

Give them time, or try asking during a calm moment like bedtime.

Focus on their abilities

Goal setting isn’t something that only certain ages can do. It’s not really about how old your child is. As we’ve learned from the study, it’s about how they think, talk, and feel.

Some kids are ready to set goals earlier than others. That might mean they can talk about what they want or feel confident trying something new. Other kids might need more time, and that’s okay, too.

Let your child know that their ideas and feelings are important

Show your child that their thoughts and emotions matter. Make space for their voice in everyday conversations, whether you’re talking about school or even what to eat for dinner.

When you do this, your child will feel more confident sharing their thoughts and speaking up. This helps them become an active participant in decisions about their life, including setting goals.

The researchers suggest that professionals should support child-led goal setting by using better tools and getting training to include all children, no matter their abilities.

Check out our Growth Mindset Worksheets to help kids and teens take charge of their own progress.