There is an increasing interest in design and creative thinking processes in the Sciences, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and health education disciplines. Many new degree programs are integrating design thinking into their syllabi, with the intention of bringing creative problem-solving methods to these disciplines. In reality,…

Product design pedagogical approaches require a specific mix of competences that demand multiplicity of perspectives, hybrid knowledge that exceeds professional field silos, and continuous problem reformulations. To do this, design studio education follows many traditions, among which is design critique. Design critique is believed to provide…

Despite advances in evidence-based core instruction and intervention, many students with disabilities continue to achieve poor academic and behavioral outcomes. Many of these students are not sufficiently responsive to standardized programs and require more intensive, individualized supports. While many interventions and school problem-solving…

Federal directives require that any child less than 3 years old with a substantiated case of abuse be referred to the early intervention (EI) system. This article details the need and presents a vision for a trauma-informed EI system. The authors describe two exemplary program models which implement this vision and recommend steps which the field…

The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC) reported 348,604 children received services in the United States under Part C of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 2009, representing 2.7% of the population (NECTAC, 2012). Early Intervention (EI), or Part C, is designed to provide services to families of…

One hundred and eighty-four special education teachers serving school-based intervention teams completed the "Attitudes About Teamwork Survey", the "Team Characteristics Survey", and the "Team Process Perception Survey". Respondents' regard for the team process in planning and implementing supports for children with disabilities was generally…

A delegation from the Ministry of Education, Special Education (GSE) went to Tokelau in 2007 in response to a request from the Tokelauan government to help establish services for children with special education needs. The team was led by Ezra Schuster and made up of a special education advisor, a speech-language therapist, an advisor on deaf…

The provision of choice making is frequently cited as an indicator of developmentally appropriate practice for young children with and without disabilities; however, there is little empirical evidence regarding the rate of delivery of choices within the preschool classroom. The delivery of intervention strategies by a classroom-based…

This article begins with a vignette about Carla, a 4-year-old girl with a diagnosis of developmental delays. It then describes a model to facilitate inclusion of young children in early childhood settings. The authors developed this model as they worked with practicing early childhood professionals. The model places emphasis on the following…

When two psychological reports of handicapped children were presented to 86 professionals alone and in their multidisciplinary team, the teams exhibited significantly less variability in placement decisions than the same specialists acting independently. No one profession appeared to dominate the group decision making. (Author/CL)

The article proposes a three-dimensional model for conceptualizing problems in the functioning of interdisciplinary team's for handicapped students: (1) as a developing and changing entity, (2) as a set of subsystems, and (3) as a function unit. Each dimension is described and examples of a team dysfunctions within each dimension are provided.…

A team of guidance counselors, administrators, school social workers, psychologists, and learning disabilities specialists meets regularly to provide support to teachers and students dealing with life crises and students identified as having specific academic, social, or behavioral problems. CL)

This article describes changes experienced by a multidisciplinary team of the Center for Learning Disabilities in Tirat Carmel, Israel, in the wake of the enactment of the country's Special Education Law. Over the course of several years, the team working at the Center was able to adapt to the changes, while preserving the professional level of…

A survey was conducted nationally to determine the number of colleges and universities involved in team training and the manner in which training is provided. Results indicated that 48% of the 360 responding institutions do not offer team training. Of those programs with team training, the majority infuse the training components into existing…

A preservice teaming model using recreation as a curriculum vehicle for developing interdisciplinary skills in special needs students is described. Program strengths, including parent involvement and opportunities for student feedback, are noted along with replication considerations. (CL)