DECIDE Framework Maps Six Phases of Child-Led Goal Setting

Quick fact: Only 50 studies have examined how children with disabilities can lead their own therapy goals, yet none tested these tools specifically for kids reporting on themselves.

Researchers reviewed tools helping children under 18 with disabilities set their own rehabilitation goals. They found three approaches and four tools but uncovered a gap: no studies validated these methods specifically for child self-reporting. The analysis revealed six distinct phases children navigate when setting goals—from directing attention to goal-setting through evaluating progress post-intervention. These phases were synthesized into a new framework called DECIDE (Direct, Elicit, Construct, Indicate, Develop, Evaluate). The findings show children can actively participate in their own goal-setting process across all six phases. However, researchers emphasize that more validation work is needed, particularly for diverse populations of children, before these tools can be confidently recommended in clinical practice.

Source: PMID 38760984 (Developmental medicine and child neurology, 2024)