Preparing a Mental Checklist Before You Walk into the Room Copy

What you will say to this family will stay with them forever. Be sure you enter the room with a plan and be sure you have controlled for distractions. Here is your checklist:

I need to think this through:

My own feelings
Having both parents together
Privacy, if this room is not private – where do I find one?
Sufficient time to address parent concerns
My need to listen – to not do all of the talking
Turning off my cell phone
Asking how the family would like to receive information
Do I have the best information about Down syndrome?
Providing support service information
My own biases
Providing a sense of hope – how I would like to be informed, if it were me