I♥MOEx
The toolkit · Appointment prep

Walk in ready.

You waited months and you get about thirty minutes. A little prep means those minutes go to what matters. Pick the kind of visit, and bring the short list.

📋 Before any appointment

Four things to do the night before. Even one helps.

  1. Write your top three concerns, in order. You may only reach the first one, so make it the one that matters most.
  2. Bring a short summary of what's been happening. The Tracker turns three weeks of moments into one page you can hand over.
  3. Note what you've already tried, and what helped or didn't. It saves everyone from repeating it.
  4. Bring the basics on paper: current medications, past evaluations, and your written questions, so nothing gets lost in the moment.
By the kind of visit
🩺Pediatrician or well-child visit+

Bring

  • Your top three concerns, written down
  • The Tracker summary, or a few concrete examples ("three times this week, this happened")
  • Any notes from school or daycare

Ask

  1. "Based on what I'm describing, would a developmental screening make sense?"
  2. "What would you want to see more of before we act?"
  3. "If this continues, what's the next step, and can we book it today?"
  4. "Can you put my concerns in the chart now, even if we're watching and waiting?"
🧩A developmental or diagnostic evaluation+

Bring

  • A rough timeline of milestones and what you've noticed
  • Notes from anyone else who spends time with your child
  • Your questions about the process itself

Ask

  1. "What does this evaluation cover, and how long until we have results?"
  2. "What will the results tell us, and what won't they?"
  3. "Whatever the outcome, what supports could help right now?"
  4. "Can I get the full written report, not just a summary?"
💬A therapy intake (OT, speech, and others)+

Bring

  • Your goals in plain words ("I want bedtime to stop being a battle")
  • What a good day and a hard day each look like
  • The Tracker patterns, if you have them

Ask

  1. "What are the goals, and how will we know it's working?"
  2. "How do you measure progress, and can I see the data?"
  3. "Can I watch sessions?"
  4. "What's the plan for when my child no longer needs this?"

Paying for this provider? Run the full check first: Before you say yes →

🏫A school meeting (IEP or 504)+

Bring

  • Examples of what helps and what doesn't at home
  • Your top priorities for your child, ranked
  • Any evaluations or doctor's notes you have

Ask

  1. "What supports is my child eligible for?"
  2. "How will we measure whether they're working?"
  3. "What can I do at home to line up with this?"
  4. "When do we review and adjust the plan, and can I get it all in writing?"

🎧 In the room

  1. Ask them to slow down. "Can you say that again, more simply?" is always allowed.
  2. Write it down, or ask to record. You won't remember it all, and you don't have to.
  3. Bring a second set of ears if you can. Two people hear more than one, especially on a hard day.
📓 Build your summary first. Open the Tracker → 🪨 Hiring a provider? Before you say yes →

Information and support from people who've walked the trail, not medical advice, and never a replacement for your pediatrician. Nothing here leaves your device.