Bringing It Together: The Full Circle

In order for students with disabilities to be successful in school, it will take effective communication and collaboration between many different professionals. Given that most professionals who work in the education field specialize in their own unique discipline, yet are required to work with many other professionals regarding the instruction of students with disabilities, it is important that collaboration is outlined and explained, as is the process of how individuals can work together to help students with disabilities achieve success in the general education classroom. Collaboration is a process, and it is important for all individuals who are involved with a student with a disability to understand what each individual brings to the conversation. Collaboration needs to be a back-and-forth process with the many individuals involved working together to meet the needs of the students they serve. Figure 26.1 depicts this process.