ABSTRACT
The chapter titled “Navigating Team Success: Yes. We Can” emphasizes the importance of effective communication and collaboration between educators, therapists, and parents to improve the quality of life for students. The chapter begins by addressing the challenges faced by educators, therapists, and parents in terms of communication gaps and the need to work together as a team. The author shares a personal experience of collaborating with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and an occupational therapist (OT) who worked inside their classroom, allowing for regular meetings to discuss students’ progress and challenges. Through collaborative discussions, the team was able to identify and address a behavior exhibited by a nonverbal student, Dillon, during one-to-one academic instruction. By analyzing environmental factors and working together, they discovered that the air conditioning blowing directly on Dillon was affecting his ability to focus. This understanding led to adjustments that significantly improved Dillon’s engagement and performance. The chapter emphasizes the benefits of close collaboration, the sharing of goals and strategies, and the importance of leveraging technology, such as video conferencing tools, to facilitate communication and collaboration when physical proximity is not possible. Ultimately, the chapter highlights the necessity of working as a team, utilizing technology, and prioritizing effective communication to ensure the success of students.
