The nightmare presents the situation that the members of the individual's team and others who care for him or her must work very hard to keep from happening. Parents frequently relate the nightmare as a vision of their child being alone. Everyone in the circle participates in responding to this question. There are no right or wrong words. Participants take turns going around the circle until all thoughts have been expressed.
Participants can pass if nothing comes to mind when it is their turn to supply a descriptor.
When the list is complete, the facilitator asks certain people, usually family and peers, to identify the three words from the list they feel best describe the individual. So often when educational teams get together, they dwell upon the things that the individual cannot do as opposed to identifying and building upon the strengths and abilities of the individual. The facilitator asks the participants to review the list which described the individual as a way to identify some of his or her strengths and unique gifts. In addition, they are instructed to think about what the individual can do, what he or she likes to do and what he or she does well. This question provides an opportunity for all the team members to identify needs from their unique perspectives.