To support students with Low-Incidence Disabilities, an array of partners within and outside the school setting is required. The importance of a collaborative approach cannot be understated. Each has a specific function that contributes to the well-being of our children. Today, we are going to take a peek at what a potential collaborative team looks like and the roles they play.
Teaching Students with Severe Disabilities defines collaboration as, "the ongoing process by which people with different areas of expertise partner with one another to identify needs and resources and then work in concert to address those needs". Each person helps with implementing instruction and brings in a variety of skills like knowledge, priorities, experiences, and different vantage points.
PROFESSIONAL PARTNERS & ROLES
Ideally, a collaborative team will consist of several professionals, paraprofessionals, and family all working towards a common goal. Let's take a deeper look at each person!
- Parents, Guardians, & Family Members:
- You are crucial to this team! You contribute insight to your child's needs and strengths. It's okay to not know everything. Ask questions and be your child's voice!
- Special Educators:
- Lead responsibility in a school setting. They design instruction and support for your student.
- General Educators:
- Bring knowledge of general education curriculum, support special education teachers when possible, and bring different views of students' school life.
- Physical Therapists:
- A health care professional who works with students who have physical disabilities. Proform therapeutic interventions assisting with mobility.
- Occupational Therapists:
- Skills can overlap with physical therapy. They can provide assistive technology help and help promote fine motor skills related to daily living activities.
- Speech/Language Pathologists:
- Help to improve verbal language, develop communication systems, and help children to express feelings like comfort/discomfort, or yes or no.
- School Psychologists:
- In a school setting, they typically conduct assessments to determine present level of function for students with disabilities and can possibly assist with positive behavioral interventions or supports.
- School Nurse:
- Provides direct treatment to students. Provides staff with knowledge to respond to each child's needs like seizures, first aid, feeding, toileting, and medication.
- School Administrators:
- Assist with IEP process, manage special education staff, and ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.
- Other Professionals:
- Depending on each child's unique needs, additional team members may be necessary. For example:
- Social Workers
- Behavior Analysts
- Teachers of the Visually Impaired
- Orientation and Mobility Specialist
- Audiologists
- Physicians
- Dentists
- Dietitians
- Respiratory Therapist
- Pharmacists
- Bus Drivers
- Assistive Technology Specialists
POSSIBLE TEAM STRUCTURES
Collaboration takes place through a variety of team structures. Depending on your school and your child's needs, a team may use different models to guide their actions. Consult with your school as to what team they use. Let's dive into four common models you might see as a parent:
- Multidisciplinary Team Model:
- Each professional works separately/independently with each student. Typically using a "pull-out" model.
- Provides students with expert knowledge of many
- Does not necessarily require interaction among professionals
- May have isolation during "pull-out"
- Interdisciplinary Team Model:
- Sharing of information between people through regular meetings.
- Diverse professionals coordinating decisions
- May have isolation during "pull-out"
- Transdisciplinary Team Model:
- Expands on the first two models. This typically involves the special educator being responsible for coordinating and implementing most services.
- Professionals examining students while in typical school environments
- Provide services in classrooms and natural settings
- Collaborative Team Model:
- All team members are expected to incorporate the expertise of other team members into their evaluations, planning, and program implementation.
Regardless of what professionals are on your team or what models they incorporate, each member contributes to problem-solving, sharing of knowledge and skills, and should have the child's best interests in mind.
WHAT CAN YOU DO AS A PARENT?
- ASK QUESTIONS
- BE INVOLVED
- KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
- ADVOCATE FOR YOUR CHILD
- COMMUNICATE WITH THE TEAM
- BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT
- STAY INFORMED AND SEEK SUPPORT
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