The video was interesting; the information presented could
be useful and informative to other educators, parents, therapists and others
involved in teaching children on the ASD spectrum. The Speaker emphasized the
difference between a medical diagnosis and an educational assessment. A
diagnosis is given by a medical professional and is also criterion based;
educational assessments are conducted by teams of educators in the school
setting. A student with a diagnosis does not automatically qualify for special
education services, but an educational team can provide a student with those
services. Educational teams would never diagnose a student; only evaluate them
to determine their need for SPED.
An aspect of the video that stood out to me was the emphasis
on involving parents in the assessment and development process as well as
creating teams that include OTs, speech therapists, teachers and other
educational professionals that work with the students. I believe that this is
an important part of developing an educational plan for a student. As a
provider of educational services to children on the ASD spectrum it is very
helpful to have the support and input of the parents as well as the other
professionals involved with the student. It creates a stable environment for
creating and implementing programs and generalizing learned skills. Although I
am not apart of a specialized team, it is still beneficial for the student if
we are all on the same page.
Porchea, your point about parents is so well taken! Parents are the first assessors of their children and educators can learn so much important information from them. It is critical that they be well informed and part of the team assessment team from the very beginning of the process.
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