IEPs, 504s, School Speech

Early Intervention Goal Examples: following directions for a 12-month-old

For 12-month-old IEP speech goals following directions, use this as early-intervention or IFSP starting language, not a finished.

Use early-intervention language for this age

For 12 month old, parents are usually talking about early intervention or an IFSP, not a school IEP. The same functional idea still matters: a goal for following directions should describe what communication looks like, what support is allowed, and where it happens.

Sample goal shape

Given natural routines and appropriate supports, the child will practice following directions for a useful purpose such as requesting, protesting, choosing, commenting, or asking for help across repeated opportunities.

Make the support level explicit

A useful goal states whether the child uses speech, AAC, gestures, visual supports, modeling, choices, wait time, or adult prompts. Without the support level, progress is hard to interpret.

Questions for the team

Ask who will coach the parent, which routines to practice in, how AAC or visual supports will be modeled, and how progress will be measured without pressuring the child.

Related Little Words guides

Important: Little Words is educational support for home practice. It is not a medical device, not an AAC replacement, and not a substitute for a licensed speech-language pathologist, pediatrician, early intervention program, school team, or developmental evaluation.