Chapter 7
The Multidisciplinary Team, Testing Considerations And
Parental Participation In The Assessment Process
Brief Summary
Chapter 7 will focus on the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and parental participation in the assessment
process. After reading this chapter, your students should understand the following:
▪ Multidisciplinary Teams and Purpose of the MDT
▪ Membership of the Multidisciplinary Team
▪ Formal Referral for a Suspected Disability
▪ The Contents of a Referral to the MDT
▪ Initial Referral to the MDT From the School Staff
▪ Initial Referral to the MDT from a Parent/Guardian
▪ Assessment Plans/Consent for Evaluation and Assessment Options of the MDT
▪ Parental Participation In The Assessment Process
▪ Parent Intakes
▪ Confidentiality
Lecture and Discussion Outline
I. Overview and Purpose of Multidisciplinary Teams (MDT)
A. Multidisciplinary Team (MDT)
B. Multifactor Team (MFT)
C. School Based Support Team (SBST)
II. IDEA Guidelines that Must be Followed by the MDT
III. Membership of the Multidisciplinary Team
A. School Psychologist
B. School Nurse
C. Classroom Teacher
D. School Social Worker
E. Special Education Teacher
F. Educational diagnostician
G. Physical Therapist
H. Behavioral consultant
I. Speech/Language clinician
J. Audiologist
K. Occupational Therapist
L. Guidance Counselor
M. Parents
IV. Formal Referral for a Suspected Disability
V. Assessment Plans/Consent for Evaluation
VI. Assessment Options of the MDT
VII. Psychological and Intellectual Evaluation
A. Overview
B. Objectives of this evaluation
C. Some symptoms that might suggest the recommendation for this evaluation
VIII. Achievement Evaluation
A. Overview
B. Objectives of this evaluation
C. Some symptoms that might suggest the recommendation for this evaluation
IX. Oral Language Evaluation
A. Overview
B. Objectives of this evaluation
C. Some symptoms that might suggest the recommendation for this evaluation
X. Perceptual Evaluation
A. Overview
B. Objectives of this evaluation
C. Some symptoms that might suggest the recommendation for this evaluation
XI. Occupational Therapy Evaluation
A. Overview
B. Objectives of this evaluation
C. Some symptoms that might suggest the recommendation for this evaluation
XII. Physical Therapy Evaluation
A. Overview
B. Objectives of this evaluation
C. Some symptoms that might suggest the recommendation for this evaluation
XIII. Parental Participation In The Assessment Process
XIV. How To Conduct Parent Intakes and Interviews
A. Goals of a Parent Intake
1. Identifying Data
2. Developmental History
3. Academic History
4. Social History
5. Example of a parent intake
XV. Confidentiality
XVI. Conclusion
Essay Questions
▪ Discuss the purpose of a multidisciplinary team. In your discussion, be sure to address the
guidelines that the multidisciplinary team must follow under IDEA.
▪ Discuss the different members who can participate on a multidisciplinary team. For each, be
sure to discuss their roles and responsibilities.
▪ What are the objectives of an academic evaluation? What are symptoms that could warrant an
academic evaluation?