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Good collaboration to advance the achievements of students with special needs involves the parents, students, educators, specialists, and any other individual that plays a role in the education of the child.

Collaboration

Collaboration is defined as: when members of an inclusive learning community work together as equals to assist students to succeed in the classroom. (Click the link below for source)

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The value of collaboration in the special education and general classroom comes from the differing perspectives and knowledge that collaborating teachers share to create a more efficient and meaningful learning experience for all. 

Roles of Special Education Professionals

  • Occupational Therapists

    • Individuals that help students with disabilities fulfill their daily roles and routines. In the context of special education, this may include things like teaching students how to use the restroom.​

  • Physical Therapists

    • Individuals that help students with disabilities manage their physical impairments that result from their diagnosis. This may look like offering students exercises to help with mobility.

  • Speech Language Therapists​​

    • Individuals that help to treat problems with speech, language, and swallowing with students with disabilities. This may look like offering sound shape exercises to students.

  • Paraprofessionals

    • Individuals who offer additional support to students in the classroom through one-on-one interactions, small group instruction, or whole-group support.​

  • Special Education teachers

    • Individuals who oversee the instruction of students with disabilities. They may collaborate with any of the above professionals, including the general education teacher, to ensure that the needs of students are being met. ​

Skills for Effective Collaboration

  • Communicate effectively so that every individual has the opportunity to share their ideas

  • Ask questions and seek support from your partners

  • Keep an open-mind to all ideas

  • Be willing to accept suggestions and critiques

  • Show respect for you partners

  • Engage in active listening

  • Give everyone a voice including students, parents, educators and specialists

Role of Paraprofessionals

Paraprofessionals work within the classroom setting to provide extra instructional, linguistic, and behavioral support to students. The may work one-on-one or with the whole group. Essentially, the role of the para in special education is to provide the extra support a given child might need to succeed.

There are some common challenges that educators experience with paraprofessionals:

  • poor communication

  • lack of defined roles

  • poor collaboration with classroom teacher

  • lack of harmonious coteaching relationship

  • undefined goals or expectations

  • interruption of classroom flow

Ways to Ensure Effective Collaboration

Teachers can ensure effective collaboration between themselves, their coworkers, and the students by following a few practices:

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  • For students, teach conversation and listening

  • Establish norms around working in a group

  • Practice how to handle conflicts

  • Understand the benefits of collaboration

  • PRACTICE

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