Sample Collaborative Table

The following collaborative table lists professionals and service providers that may be involved with a student who receives special education services. The role and collaborative contribution they perform is described for each of these professionals and service providers. The table does not include every professional or service provider that may be involved with a student who receives special education services or every possible role or collaborative contribution they may perform. The table gives more of general overview of the involvement of some of the main professionals and service providers that work with students who receive special education services.  

Collaborative Table

 In the table provided below, summarize the major role the professional plays. Describe the collaborative contributions that could be made by each professional on the team.

Provider	Role	Collaborative contribution
Special Educator	Providing classroom instruction for students who receive special education services, can be in several different settings and methods depending on the students’ disabilities. Conducting student assessment, evaluating student programs, synthesizing special related services. Ensure accommodations are in place for students. Collect data on student’s progress toward meeting goals.	Presenting data obtained through assessment to planning team. Measuring the effectiveness of students’ plans and reporting to team. Possible co-teaching with the general educator. Serve as team facilitator and case manager.
General Educator	Implementing the academic curriculum in the classroom, and the provision of appropriate learning experiences. Observing the students with disabilities in the social setting of the general education classroom. Ensure accommodations are in place for the student.	Providing information about students with disabilities performance in the general education setting. Possible co-teaching with the special educator.
Behavior Specialist	Identifying problem behaviors through assessment. Interprets the assessment and helps develop the behavior intervention plan. Consults with all teachers to alleviate problem behavior of child – i.e. environmental assessment	Defining problem behaviors in a concrete way and sharing them with team members to lead to successful behavior intervention plans. Typically consults with the team to implement the plan and to address any other issues effecting behavior.
School Psychologist	Selecting, administering, and interpreting  standardized and informal tests used to determine students’ eligibility for special programs. Addresses the child’s affective needs.	Assisting in the planning of students’ programs. Frequently facilitates the team IEP process.
Social Worker	Collecting information about the students’ backgrounds and home lives. Meeting with students in crisis. Addresses the child’s affective needs directly or by consultation. Works with social services.	Providing information to the planning team for program design. Serving as a link between school and outside service providers.
Counselor	Designing programs that help students with their interpersonal skills and emotions. Designing student class schedules. Assisting students with their future plans.	Providing observations and assessment data for planning. Working with students’ service providers when designing programs and assisting students with decisions.

Provider	Role	Collaborative contribution
Speech-Language Pathologist	Identifying, evaluating, and intervening of communication disorders. Administering formal and informal tests to determine the severity of language difficulties.	Working with the classroom teacher to integrate curriculum for students with language difficulties. Consulting with or training teachers to help them better communicate with students with language difficulties.
Physical Therapist	Developing a program of intervention and assessment to meet the students’ physical needs. Addressing posture, mobility, movement and skills that will increase the students’ independence.	Working with other team members to train them to be able to meet the goals set for the students’ with physical needs.
Transition Specialist	Preparing students and families for transition to working after schooling.	Working with service providers that work with a student to assess the student’s abilities to determine the best place for them after finishing school. Helping with planning of all aspects of students’ lives after finishing school.
School Nurse	Planning of programs that involve health, wellness or substance abuse. Administering medications. Planning for emergencies, removing health barriers to learning. Teaching staff to meet the child’s health needs including things like feeding and suctioning.	Acting as a link between the school and medical providers. Training staff and parents for dealing with students’ health issues.

Provider	Role	Collaborative contribution
School Adminstrator	Providing overall fiscal, legal, and programmatic responsibility for the unit in which the team functions. Supporting the team with disciplinary action when students need discipline outside of their program. Serves as leader of the team giving guidance as necessary.	Providing administrative support for the needs of the team. Setting the tone to establish a collaborative culture for the program that supports the concept of teaming. Guides the team in times of crisis or with questions.