This article contains a series of recommendations to improve collaborative teaching culled from interviews with administrators, teachers, parents, and students from 10 schools. General recommendations addressing service delivery, administrative, and communication issues are included, along with training recommendations for new and indirectly…

This article explores some fundamental features that foster the development of collaborative relationships and collaborative communities, which in turn support the success of students with disabilities. Effective mechanisms are presented for accessing and improving collaborative support networks. Start-up problems that may arise in many schools…

This article reviews requirements for considering the need for assistive technology (AT) services within the Individualized Education Program process and highlights the importance of collaborative teamwork. Current AT models are described, along with the AT Co-Planner. The use of a software version of the model is discussed. (Contains references.)…

Focuses on recognizing key indicators for developing teamwork and collaboration among child care staff. Addresses communicating clearly, interacting respectfully, demonstrating trust, negotiating different perspectives, building on each other's strengths, and promoting reliability and responsibility. Identifies strategies to cultivate growth in…

This article describes language difficulties of college students with language learning disabilities and the types of accommodations that are provided to these students. It presents four language issues that affect the provision of accommodations, points out the differences across universities in the accommodations offered, and provides three case…

This article describes a family-centered wraparound project developed to meet the needs of elementary children with severe emotional and behavioral disorders. It discusses the role of the behavioral support team and the key roles of the principal and the teacher as the creators of cultural competence. Tips for teachers are provided. (Contains…

This article describes an observational assessment procedure designed for infants, toddlers, and preschool children. The procedure is intended to link assessment with intervention by determining what supports and what compromises a child's performance, through a holistic team assessment involving a speech-language pathologist, motor specialist,…

This article presents recommendations to increase family involvement among culturally/linguistically diverse families of children with disabilities. Recommendations include using different communication approaches, providing alternative meeting sites, providing information and training to parents, and understanding family priorities, needs, and…

Discusses the need for college graduates who are prepared for employment and skilled in teamwork, outlines a rationale for the development of groupwork in higher education, and describes a program sponsored by British Petroleum in 10 institutions in England and Scotland to provide academics with professional development in teaching groupwork…

This article presents a prereferral assessment and intervention process implemented in an elementary school. Included in the description are procedures, examples of record forms, and a case study illustrating the operation of the process. The advantages and disadvantages of the process, as perceived by the faculty and staff, are listed. (Contains…

Evaluated a peer assessment procedure to factor in the contributions of individual group members engaged in an integrated group project. Findings demonstrated that the method resulted in a substantially wider spread of marks being given to individual students; about one-third received a grade different from the grade the project as a whole would…

Interviews with 15 Kentucky professionals providing assistive technology (AT) services for young children with disabilities found contradictions, including frequent espousal of teaming as important in service delivery but less frequent implementation; family members not seen as important members of teams, but client goals rated as extremely…

This article argues that across the three main British service systems of education, health, and social services, professionals need a shared perception of what it means to have an intellectual disability; shared means of addressing the challenges it raises; and a shared agenda of research and personnel training. (Contains references.) (CR)

Describes a Web-based tool, WebGuide, being developed to mediate and structure collaborative learning. This software uses an innovative mechanism to define a flexible system of perspectives on a shared knowledge construction space. WebGuide provides an electronic and persistent workspace for individuals and teams to develop and share distinctive…

School design is changing in response to community needs. Today, flexibility is the key word in planning, designing, and renovating schools. Planning teams should consider schools' role as community learning centers. School size, shared space, enrollment changes, security, and parental choice of facilities are important planning elements. (MLH)