A Guide for Success

An interdisciplinary team is defined as a collective of professionals working at the same hierarchical level, collaborating to achieve shared goals. These teams harness diverse expertise, fostering holistic approaches to addressing challenges and driving progress. Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) have identified the importance of creating more opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in Least Restrictive Environments (LREs), to optimize student success.

Program Implementation and Design

Our comprehensive interdisciplinary program is designed to seamlessly integrate into various educational settings, offering structured support for student development and staff collaboration. This program is tailored for schools looking to enhance their existing frameworks with targeted, theme-based interventions.

Key Features of Our Program Include:

• Flexible Site and Classroom Applications: Adaptable to various school sites and classroom types, including specialized classrooms focused on specific needs such as autism support for students from Kindergarten to Grade 5.
• Consistent Engagement: The program is structured to run throughout the academic year, ensuring continuous support and development from August to May.
• Monthly Group Integration: Engages classrooms in meaningful, embedded group activities held once per month, with flexible session durations of either 45 or 30 minutes, tailored to your school's unique scheduling needs.
• Thematic Learning Approach: Each session is designed around engaging, theme-based activities to foster student interest and enrich the learning experience.
• Parallel Skill Development: OTs and SLPs facilitate simultaneous group sessions that include hands-on activities, such as visual-motor coordination and sequencing, promoting diverse learning opportunities within a structured format.

This program offers an effective solution for schools looking to improve student outcomes through interdisciplinary collaboration and structured, theme-based activities.

Structured Program Design

Teachers receive structured group outlines, complete with planned activities and objectives, prior to each session. Reminder emails are sent to ensure adherence to schedules. The collaborative structure is reinforced through:

• Monthly Collaboration Meetings: OTs and SLPs meet monthly to align goals, review strategies, and refine session plans.
• Teacher Engagement via Google Forms: Alternating months include brief, 5-question Google Forms for teachers to share feedback and reflections.
• Ongoing Informal Collaboration: Regular interactions between teachers and service providers encourage adaptive support.
• Post-Session Debriefing: Immediate reflection sessions are held post-group, involving OTs, SLPs, and teachers to discuss outcomes and plan enhancements.

Interactive and Supportive Collaboration

Active participation and real-time problem-solving during group activities are encouraged. Teachers and classroom staff can ask questions and gain insights during sessions, while OTs and SLPs model best practices, promoting a hands-on learning environment.

Capacity Building Through Team Engagement

Key outcomes include:

• Enhanced Sensory Understanding: Teachers, aides, and SLPs gain deeper insights into students' sensory needs, fostering targeted support.
• Awareness and Adaptability: Team members develop a comprehensive understanding of individual student needs, enabling smoother transitions between activities and reducing maladaptive behaviors.
• Therapeutic Prompting Skills: Classroom staff learn therapeutic prompting techniques by observing OTs and SLPs in action, enhancing their ability to apply these strategies independently.
• Collaborative Communication: Team communication flourishes, encouraging the use of classroom materials in innovative ways and fostering a culture of collective problem-solving.

This comprehensive interdisciplinary program design paves the way for improved student outcomes through structured collaboration, strategic planning, and a shared commitment to excellence. Through leading by example and adaptive program implementation, we create a supportive and effective learning environment that empowers both students and educators alike.