Family-Centered and Client-Led 

Speech-Language Pathologists recognize the essential role that families play in all aspects of service, from assessment through treatment, and the role that families and individuals play as key decision makers, recognized for their knowledge and skills (ASHA, n.d.)

Family-centered practice includes:

• learning about the family system and developing contextualized assessments and interventions that respect the family system and preferences (Hecimovic, Powell, & Christensen, 1999; Moes & Frea, 2000);

• developing meaningful learning opportunities, providing information, teaching strategies, and offering feedback to families;

• teaching families interaction skills to support and manage behavior and the development of communication and language;

• individualizing services to the needs and desires of the family and involving families in decision-making.