The paper reviews difficulties in special education interdisciplinary team decision making and relates the experiences of one team's efforts to increase intra-team communication. Among problems cited are lack of focus in discussions, unequal levels of participation, and limited abilities to produce recommendations or provide therapy in a truly…

Pre-referral guidelines developed by the Minnesota State Department of Education are presented. The guidelines concern the possible referral of students with unique learning patterns and are organized around existing district policies, teacher-student relationships, teacher skills, and alternative instructional programs provided by the various…

The resource guide is intended to promote positive relationships among special and regular class teachers in rural areas. An introductory section reviews consultation in the educational setting, noting common practices and errors in the consultation process. Seven components of the consulting process are discussed: (1) identification of students…

Discusses how collaboration can enhance support services provided to college students with learning disabilities. Defines collaboration and considers the context of federal law concerning disabilities, examines current practice, and outlines a vision for implementing collaborative services. Also examines advantages and disadvantages of this…

This article reviews the literature on consultation, collegiality, and other forms of collaboration in schools, as a means of assessing the knowledge base and understanding its relationship to special education. Research on implementation of collaborative practices in special education is called for. (JDD)

This paper clarifies vocabulary in the area of collaboration in schools, describes characteristics of collaboration, and outlines a set of principles. Principles explain that collaboration is not a prerequisite in most school programs, may occur informally, requires time to develop, is not a panacea, and may raise ethical issues for special…

This article describes efforts in Colorado to develop collaborative relationships among educators to better meet needs of students with disabilities. The article stresses the importance of developing common understanding, developing a full array of services within the delivery system, and addressing school scheduling issues. (JDD)

This paper reports findings of a study examining the nature of collaboration between special educators and general educators in two elementary schools. In addition, personal perspectives are presented on the linkages between conducting research and gaining experiences as a special educator at one of the elementary schools the year following…

This training program is intended to help administrators and staff developers prepare teachers of special needs students to work more effectively with paraprofessionals--to direct and monitor their activities, to assess their contributions to the instructional process, and to use systematic procedures to improve their skills and productivity.…

To facilitate the least restrictive education of handicapped children required by Public Law 94-142, special educators are encouraged to cooperate with regular classroom teachers in meeting the needs of handicapped children. An outline of eight suggestions for developing communication skills and effective consultation techniques focuses on being…

Many teachers in the Sheboygan (Wisconsin) Area School District's alternative programs use principles taught to behavioral disordered students for confronting and handling difficult situations when they must confront other adults in the school system about their concerns and problems. A positive and effective adult confrontation process is…

Presents a practical model of teacher communication, consultation, and provision of services that can make a difference in the education of children with disabilities. Strategies that special educators can use to initiate communication and develop ongoing communication with regular education teachers are provided. (CR)

The Student Study Team (SST) is described as a California intervention model that encourages effective multidisciplinary team participation. The development, training, operation, and evaluation of such teams are discussed, and implementation recommendations are offered. The article includes a flow chart of the SST process, a meeting competency…

In recognition of the limitations of isolated decision making, teamwork has emerged as a preferred approach for educating students both with and without disabilities. The Vermont Interdependent Services Team Approach (VISTA) process described in this manual offers ways to think about and implement many of the tenets of collaborative teamwork to…

Therapists and educators in early childhood special education programs have several potential sources of conflict ensuing from differing professional backgrounds, quality control, coordination problems, material equity, and lack of policy. A model for intensive and extensive training to improve the integration of therapy and therapists into the…