Fundamental to the Federation is a focus on family participation and support. Every family has a right to an appropriate, available and accessible support base to meet family-identified needs. Therefore, policies, legislation, funding mechanisms and service systems must utilize the strengths of families by:

• Ensuring that they are equal partners in the planning, implementation and evaluation of services.
• Viewing the child as a whole person and the family as a whole unit, rather than emphasizing the disability.
• Empowering families and children to make decisions about services in their own lives. Encouraging innovative programming that increases options and promotes the integration of services.