Page 144 - Empowerment Approach Handbook 2024 2025 with videos

Pathway to Independence: make it part of every plan

Don’t leave people dependent on you or any scaffold or

support for too long – plan a Pathway to

Independence.

1. Plan out the steps to independence with the child. Make the steps small enough that the child
feels a sense of success frequently, so they get regular releases of dopamine (we call these

Dopamine Dots - see neurobiology unit).

2. Work out the scaffolds needed at each stage.

3. Make sure the child and all adults are clear on the end goal – from the start.