Collaborative Relationships

Description: This is an email from a colleague in the therapy department. We often discuss students abilities, assessments, and goals with one another to ensure all students meet their objectives, thus reaching their full potential. 

Connection: This artifact aligns with the knowledge indicator 8I "understands the roles and the importance of including students with disabilities, as appropriate, and all team members in planning individualized education programs (i.e, IEP, IFSP, Section 504 plan) for students with disabilities." Tbeing able to collaborate and work within a disciplinary team helps foster not only their physical education, but their cognitive, language, social and emotional development. Being able to work as a team helps students achieve more growth and developmental progress than without a team based approach. 

Importance: The importance of collaboration is to bring about everyone's specialty and knowledge. 

Adaptive Equipment 

Description: This is a team meeting receipt. All members of a classroom team include, teachers, instructional assistants, speech paths, occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers, BCBAs, APE, and nurses. Team meetings usually occur monthly unless there are certain concerns or issues pertaining to the classroom dynamic. 

Connection: This artifact aligns with performance indicator 8K "participates in collaborative decision-making and problem-solving with colleagues and other professionals to achieve success for all students." Team meetings are an essential component of collaborating with colleagues to discuss current issues or progress. 

Importance: The importance of team meetings is to connect with colleagues and build an environment to problem solve, discuss concerns, debrief on behaviors and celebrate progressions. Another important component of team meetings is to ensure all team members are on the same page so that programming is consistent for students across all diciplines.