SCHOOL MEETINGS

The assistance of an educational consultant at a team meeting can help prevent future problems as well as resolve current dilemmas. Parents want a program that will help their child; schools not only want a program that will help the child but one that they are able to implement. The consultant utilizes the evaluation results, the parents' and school's wishes, her knowledge of the child with a learning disability, the federal and state regulations, and educational research and practice to work with the team. As part of a combined effort, she can build on members' ideas, restate a goal or objective so that it meets the need more directly, suggest approaches and materials, or recommend classroom accommodations or curriculum modifications. Because of her knowledge of educational research and practice, she can help establish a complex program that minimizes fragmenting the child's day. In addition, as an expert in her field, she can help smooth over areas of difficulty between home and school. When the issues are addressed  in a positive way there is almost always a way to resolve them.

---