Tool - Self-Determination Program The Bridge School

FAF is a tool that was developed to help guide the individual, their family and team in looking at the young adult’s priorities in life and assist with the development of appropriate plans for their transition.

FAF is a self-discovery survey of 65 items. The survey is organized around seven major life areas: Community Membership; Control of Personal Health & Welfare; Pursuit of Lifelong Learning; Developing Talents & Interests; Creating Healthy Relationships; Self-Reliance; and Developing a Personal Sense of Spirituality.

Framing A Future (Tool Only) [PDF 452KB]
FAF Modified Survey [276KB, PDF]
Planeando Mi Futuro (Framing A Future Tool Only in Spanish) [PDF 541KB]

Application of the Tool

Image of a section of the FAF survey, highlighting an insert of three multiple choice columns with the titles Very, Somewhat Important, and Not

The first stage assists the students in determining what is important to them.

Image of a section of the FAF survey, highlighting an insert of three multiple choice columns with the titles High, Medium Satisfaction, and Low

The second stage in the process is determining how satisfied the student is with the benchmarks they deemed to be important or very important.

Image of pdf with text:
Framing A Future: Team Discussion and Planning Guide (continued)
Priority #1: 1 (Example)
Major Life Area: Health and Welfare
Answer for myself things to do with me.

Barriers/What gets in the way:
people don’t always direct questions to “J”
takes time to formulate answers on SGD, others jump in for her

Opportunities/Goals I can develop to get me where I want to go:
Update pre-stored vocabulary to include clarification/redirection messages (e.g. I can answer that…).
Prior to Dr. visits, program specific/current information (e.g. I’ve been really tired after school).
Let “J” spend first 5-10 minutes alone with the doctor

Three more rows of blank boxes with the titles: Priority #1:
Major Life Area:, Barriers/What gets in the way:, Opportunities/Goals I can develop to get me where I want to go:

The third stage in the application of the tool is to establish critical priorities in areas in which the student has expressed an interest in developing more skill and confidence.

Image of a pdf with text:

Setting Priorities
Congratulations! You have just looked at yourself in 65 new and different ways! Now it is time to narrow down all of the possible ways to support your path into adulthood to a number you can manage.
Directions: Areas of “high importance” and “low satisfaction” or even “medium satisfaction” are a good place to start.

Info table with column titles: Not Important to Me, Somewhat Important to Me, and Very Important to Me. Row titles: High Satisfaction with this area of my life, Medium Satisfaction with this area of my life, and Low Satisfaction with this area of my life.

Text in the High Satisfaction and Somewhat Important table cell: Be picked to lead others
Text in the Medium Satisfaction and Somewhat Important table cell: Get where I want on my own
Text in the Medium Satisfaction and Very Important table cell: Choose where and who I go with after school/weekends. Tell my opinions or ideas
Text in the Low Satisfaction and Somewhat Important table cell: Say in family activities
Text in Low Satisfaction and Very Important table cell: Develop friendships and hangout. Be member of team, club, group

The fourth stage is determining what steps need to be taken to address these priorities.

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