An Inservice Program for Improving Team Participation in Educational Decision-Making

Abstract

Active participation of multidisciplinary team (MDT) members in the Individual Education Program (IEP) decision-making process can assure development and implementation of appropriate ways to meet the needs of handicapped students. Methods which will increase the involvement of MDT team members in this process are needed. The inservice training program described in this article is proposed as one such method. Concepts drawn from organizational development and small group dynamics influenced the development of the program. Team building training concepts are described, instructional strategies used to teach communication skills and problem solving techniques are discussed, and the application of an experiential learning sequence is explained.