The early intervention process can be overwhelming for parents/guardians. There are often a number of members of the intervention evaluation team with a wide range of roles and responsibilities that may be unfamiliar to parents/guardians. Professionals associated with special education services are often well-versed in the associated language, acronyms, and processes. Without careful communication for educators, parents/guardians can be confused and unsure of their role in the process. Taking time to share information about the evaluation team member roles and responsibilities and process with parents/guardians using family-friendly language and compassion can often ease anxiety about the process and help them see the valuable role they play as a member of the intervention evaluation team.
Part 1: Evaluation Team Infographic/Chart
Create a family-friendly infographic/chart that clearly illustrates what parents/guardians should expect from various evaluation team members during the early intervention evaluation process. The infographic/chart should communicate the roles and responsibilities of each team members below:
Early intervention specialist/Case manager
Parent/Guardian
Psychologist
Pediatrician
Speech therapist
Two additional specialists of your choice
For each of the team members, include the following information:
Visual or symbol that represents the designated role/responsibilities
Description of the role
Summarize the type of data the person would collect and share during the evaluation team meeting
Explanation of why the role is important to the team
Part 2: Commonly Used Acronyms and Meeting Agenda
Create a list of the 10 commonly used acronyms associated with early intervention evaluation team meeting. Use family-friendly language to clearly explain each acronym.
Formulate a meeting agenda that reflects the typical early intervention evaluation team meeting components.
Part 3: Parent/Guardian Communication Email
Create an email you would send to a child’s parents/guardian prior to the early intervention evaluation team meeting. Consider the tenets of the Christian worldview perspective and how you can employ family-friendly language in a compassionate, culturally sensitive manner to clearly communicate information about what the family should expect during the meeting in a way that can ease their anxiety and make them feel that they are an important part of the group. The email should reference and include the infographic/chart from Part 1 and the list of acronyms from Part 2 and address the following:
The evaluation team infographic/chart to explain various roles and responsibilities for group members
Commonly used acronyms that may be part of the meeting
Meeting agenda outlining what the family can expect to happen at the meeting
List of three local organizations and/or websites that can provide the family with additional information about early intervention and/or the early intervention process.