We've all probably gone to at least one IEP meeting where a group of team members gathered around a table and shared their perspectives, aspirations, objectives, and action plans for a student. A conference that flowed like a normal discussion rather of being stiff like other IEP sessions can be. This meeting certainly went on longer than it should have and added ten more chores to your to-do list, but it demonstrated the value of multidisciplinary collaboration. If our objective is to help students feel successful in a variety of settings, we must endeavour to integrate an interdisciplinary approach not just in our sessions but also in our daily therapy plans. As someone who deals with children from preschool to high school, I find this to be quite beneficial, regardless of their age. 1) Be curious and stay curious. Curiosity is the bedrock of constant multidisciplinary activity. Curiosity invites people to share their expertise and experience. It introduces you to new environments and allows you to collaborate with new individuals. It might be as simple as asking other experts, "Hey, how's Johnny doing for you?" or "I've observed Johnny's having trouble with this; are you seeing it as well?" This provides an opportunity to celebrate achievements or to bring to light obstacles that are keeping the student from succeeding. Members of the team may then troubleshoot together or discuss ideas that have worked in the past for the same obstacle in another setting. 2) Be flexible with what therapy should look like. Our pupils should not be treated in isolation, and neither should our treatment. Interacting with students in a variety of settings helps you to have a more normalised grasp of the abilities that a student requires to feel successful. It also reveals any obstacles that may be keeping them from succeeding. Outside of the therapy session, look for ways to engage with your pupils. Sit with them during storey time or free choice time in the classroom if you have a few minutes. Go see the upcoming class presentation that they're apprehensive about. This is a simple technique to gradually integrate oneself into the classroom without appearing invasive.I'm changing the way I think about service delivery for my students as I include interdisciplinary practise into my therapeutic style. Because I appreciate the varied perspectives and possibilities that both environments provide, I frequently write IEPs that include a combination of pull-out and push-in. Also, be open to bringing experts into your therapeutic area, such as occupational and physical therapists, special education teachers, paraprofessionals, psychologists, and social workers. This might seem vulnerable and scary at times, but despite how frequently I wonder whether or not I know what I'm doing, no other professional has ever questioned it. 3) Collaboration can be quick! Although my emoji history indicates that I am a millennial, my favourite mode of communication is face-to-face. As someone who moves throughout the school building every 30 minutes or so, I am constantly bumping into other professionals in the hallways, teacher's lounges, offices, and other areas. I take advantage of these brief face-to-face occasions to check in on my students, check on their progress, give advice, and accept new challenges. Face-to-face contact isn't always possible or even desirable, especially if your time is split between various buildings or treatment sessions that are scheduled back-to-back. I also utilise email to convey information on days when my time is restricted. I send emails with insights I've gained from therapy, suggestions for the instructor to try, and occasionally amusing stories. These aren't extensive emails; they're just the highlights. That way, when I meet that person in person, I'll have have laid the framework, and I'll be able to spend my time asking follow-up and troubleshooting questions. The more this becomes a habit, the less time and effort it will need. It just takes a minute in the end. A minute may not seem like much time to fit in what we typically think of as collaboration, but as it becomes a regular habit, those minutes pile up, and cooperation becomes effortless and more interdisciplinary.
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September 2021
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