Inter-Organizational Collaboration: Process of Creating a Joint Statement for Collaborative IEP Goal Writing

• In Event: Inter-Organizational Collaboration: Process of Creating a Joint Statement for Collaborative IEP Goal Writing

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Students with disabilities benefit from a team-based approach to support their needs. Individuals from occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and speech-language pathology (SLP) partnered to form an interprofessional (IP) workgroup to address the topic of student-centered collaborative goal writing in the context of school-based practice. METHOD: This IP workgroup engaged in a collaborative process centered around a shared goal which integrated reflection and discussion surrounding barriers to teaming, collaborative goal writing, and summarizing best practices from the healthcare and special education literature. This process required development of a shared goal, common language, and collaboration across professions and organizations. RESULTS: The workgroup process created a consensus document, the Joint Statement on Interprofessional Collaborative Goals in School-Based Practice, to provide guidance for school-based practitioners to support student success. Following inter-organizational expert review, the statement was endorsed by three professional organizations and disseminated to practitioners via their respective organizational websites. CONCLUSIONS: This paper outlines the innovative process used by an interprofessional, inter-organizational workgroup to develop and disseminate a consensus document outlining practical guidelines for interprofessional teams working in the educational setting. Additionally, this workgroup created associated professional development materials and presented them to OTs, PTs, and SLPs at a national level. This joint statement, supporting collaborative IEP goal writing, is featured on the American Occupational Therapy Association, American Physical Therapy Association, and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association websites, as well as several other website state level websites around the United States.

Author

• Amy Schlessman, Tufts University