Although Cassie’s parents initially denied her diagnosis of Down syndrome, they have moved quickly through the grieving process. Renee asks you to visit them at home later this week, saying, "We want to learn everything we can to help Cassie as she grows up."

Preparing for the appointment, you remind yourself of the next steps:

• forming a parent/professional partnership with the family that incorporates good interpersonal communication skills.
• providing the family with an overview of the early intervention and school systems as well as state services for which Cassie may be eligible.
• employing an empowerment model that builds the family’s knowledge and skills so they can be the leaders of Cassie’s developmental, medical, and educational teams.