Consultation
Your school's assistance team may suggest consultation from a professional in a specialized area to help your child and her teacher work better together. Consultation is used as a resource of ideas for classroom teachers and other school personnel. It is not a direct service to students.
When Consultation Is Used
A consultant may be called in to give input to a classroom teacher. For example, if a child's behavior is a cause for reoccurring concern in her third-grade classroom, a teacher of the behavior disordered or other behavioral specialist may be called in. Likewise, a preschooler may have difficulty with holding a crayon, cutting with scissors, and manipulating puzzle pieces. In this situation, an occupational therapist might be called for consultation.
A consultant's services may also be written into a child's IEP. Perhaps the child has difficulty with central auditory processing and uses an FM auditory trainer. Her IEP might include consultation for the classroom teacher on the use of the equipment as well as pointers for classroom instruction and management that will help the child succeed.
Consultation Providers
The professional providing consultation may be a staff member of the school district. This is often the case if services are needed from a professional commonly found in every school district — such as a school nurse. This is also the case in larger school districts that employ more specialized professionals — such as a physical therapist or an occupational therapist.
Who pays for a consultant?
In general, a consultant is called into a classroom based on the concerns of school personnel. In this situation, the school district pays for the consultant unless, of course, the individual is a staff member. In some instances, only the family requests consultation. The responsibility of payment then depends on the unique situation.
The consultant might come from a regional special education program that serves a number of school districts. These programs offer services for less frequently occurring needs — such as teaching the visually impaired. Most school districts do not have enough blind children to warrant hiring such a specialist. They contract with a regional program for services as needed.
Referral for Special Education Evaluation
If your child is referred to the school's assistance team and the suggestions given to the classroom teacher do not take care of the concern, your child may be referred for a special education evaluation.
You will receive an “invitation” to a meeting to determine if a special education evaluation should be conducted. Besides you, the people at this meeting will include an administrator from your child's school, a school psychologist, your child's teacher, and a special education teacher.
The team will discuss your child's performance in the classroom and the specific concerns that brought about the meeting. The team will decide if an evaluation is needed and, if so, what types of testing should be done.
An evaluation may consist of observations, request of doctors' records regarding diagnosis of a disability, IQ and ability testing, and interviews with you, the teacher, and your child. A 135 school district has sixty days to complete the evaluation. Another meeting will then be held to discuss their findings.
