Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Collaboration with Developmental Pediatricians

    Posted 01-21-2020 12:53 PM
    Hi Everyone, 

    I have a very exciting opportunity to do a lecture series with a group of Developmental Pediatrician Fellows regarding Special Education teachers. We aren't sure on specific topics yet but I wanted to reach out to a larger group and gather some information and ideas. If you have the time I'd love your input on any or all of these questions.

    As a Special Education teacher (early childhood preferably) OR any provider of care to a child with special needs have you:

    • Interacted with a Developmental Pediatrician?
    • Was it a positive or negative experience?
    • Do you feel like your input on the child under evaluation was valued?
    • What type of communication took place (I.e. Paper, email, phone, in person, etc)?
    • As an educator would you like to be more involved on medical evaluation teams? How so? What do you imagine that would look like?
    • Do you live/work somewhere where you feel there is a well established collaboration between MDs and teachers? What does it look like?

    Any other input or ideas would be greatly appreciated. I am currently in TN and other than being sent a very large and difficult to complete packet we are almost never consulted before diagnosis. I have worked with children for years and when they walk in with a diagnosis that confuses both myself and the parents we wonder how/why there wasn't more input or collaboration with the professionals who know the child best. 

    We are hoping this collaboration will begin to create a team approach to assisting these young children. We are also hoping to begin creating a more unified front regarding advocacy for young children and the services they so desperately need. Doctor or Teacher we are all fighting for these children.

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    Catherine Marx
    Special Education PreK teacher
    Clarksville Montgomery County School System
    Fort Campbell KY
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  • 2.  RE: Collaboration with Developmental Pediatricians

    Posted 01-22-2020 06:48 AM
    I have never been in communication with a child's doctor or medical team, but I have always wished that we could be in communication.  I think if parents signed a release allowing us to contact each other, that would be the first step.  I am thrilled to see that you are diving into this!

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    Elizabeth Weller
    Director
    Park Place Children's Center
    Anderson IN
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  • 3.  RE: Collaboration with Developmental Pediatricians

    Posted 01-22-2020 10:48 AM
    As a Special Education teacher (early childhood preferably) OR any provider of care to a child with special needs have you:

    • Interacted with a Developmental Pediatrician? I have not, but our Director of Family Services has a resource list with several on their because here in Orlando, the wait list to see one is 3/4 months. 
    • Was it a positive or negative experience? Once our families have met with one, they were helped in getting the diagnosis and services that their child needed.
    • Do you feel like your input on the child under evaluation was valued? Yes and No.  I think certain developmental milestones are subjective to the doctors beliefs.
    • What type of communication took place (I.e. Paper, email, phone, in person, etc)? by phone
    • As an educator would you like to be more involved on medical evaluation teams? How so? What do you imagine that would look like? Yes I would. I think when an evaluation is done on a child, it is a short time frame, and not enough time to get a true picture of how the child really is.  I think that the evaluation should be done, and their should be a team meeting before results or diagnosis is given to parents to get a full picture and a more accurate result.
    • Do you live/work somewhere where you feel there is a well established collaboration between MDs and teachers? What does it look like? Unfortunately not.


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    Stephanie DeScalzo
    Behavior Coach
    Winter Park Day Nursery
    Winter Park FL
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  • 4.  RE: Collaboration with Developmental Pediatricians

    Posted 01-23-2020 01:46 PM
    • Interacted with a Developmental Pediatrician? Our program has parents sign a Release of Information that we list all doctors ( pediatric, general, optometrists, orthos, dentists, therapists, psychiatrists, specialty), also the school district, education agencies and Dept. of Human (Social) Services. That way we have permission to speak to these entities if the need is there to better the classroom experience for the child.
    • Was it a positive or negative experience? We have found it to be mostly positive and the parents are happy to see and feel that we are all a team working for the benefit of their child.
    • Do you feel like your input on the child under evaluation was valued? For the most part, yes we do. As far as the school districts, it is coming around to be better each year.
    • What type of communication took place (I.e. Paper, email, phone, in person, etc)? We have had communication in all the forms listed above.
    • As an educator would you like to be more involved on medical evaluation teams? How so? What do you imagine that would look like? Yes we do like to be part when we can. Time and travel is an issue in the involvement. It is fulfilling to be involved in the evaluation teams because it helps us to make sure the child is receiving services all the way around.
    •             Do you live/work somewhere where you feel there is a well established collaboration between MDs and teachers? What does it look like? Most of the area doctors will talk to us and discuss children with us if we have a concern or need information. I would say it is fairly well established. We share with mental health consultants as to what strategies we are implementing in the classroom and use ideas and strategies they suggest as well. We follow guidelines set by health practitioners for keeping children

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    Sue Miller
    team leader
    Child Development Center
    Hawarden IA
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