Multidisciplinary Teams for Autism: 3 Ways to Partner with Parents

What is a Multidisciplinary team? 

A multidisciplinary team is a group of professionals from different disciplines who come together to collaborate on the care and support of a child, particularly in the context of special education or healthcare. 

I see these teams as essential for developing comprehensive and effective Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or autism therapy programs. 

Each member of the team, whether they are teachers, therapists, behavior analysts, or medical professionals, brings their own expertise and perspective to the table. This collaborative approach ensures that all aspects of the child’s development—academic, behavioral, social, and emotional—are addressed, leading to more impactful outcomes. 

The parent is also a critical member of this team, providing valuable insights and helping to ensure that the child’s needs are met across all environments, including home and community. You might be surprised to hear that even though parents only physically take up one or two seats, their involvement is the most important. 

Parent Input for IEP Teams

One of the most important members of multidisciplinary teams, especially at the IEP table, is the parent. 

As a parent and a professional, I can’t stress enough how crucial it is for parents to be deeply involved in IEP meetings. An IEP actually cannot be complete without parent approval and signature.

Parents hold the most important seat at the table in multidisciplinary teams because their role is far more significant than just occupying a single chair. They spend the most hours with the child and can implement goals across multiple settings, leading to more impactful success.

I always encourage parents to bring a support person with them, whether it’s another parent, a friend, or even an advocate, to help navigate the meeting.

Legally, parents must approve the IEP, as it’s a binding contract. This makes their involvement absolutely essential.

No one is more invested in the child’s short-term and long-term success than the parents, which is why their input is so valuable in shaping the best possible outcomes for their child.

Setting IEP goals as Multidisciplinary Teams

When setting IEP goals, it’s essential to adopt an inclusive approach that goes beyond just academic achievements.

IEP goals should be holistic, taking into account the student’s needs across all environments they interact with—home, school, and the community. I share a story of a child who was doing well in school but only eating baby food at home and having major problem behaviors.

This means considering not only the skills a child needs to succeed in the classroom but also those necessary for daily life, such as social interactions, communication, self-care, and behavior management.

For instance, if a child struggles with potty training or picky eating at home, these challenges can impact their overall well-being and success at school.

By including goals that address these areas, professionals can ensure that the child receives support that promotes progress in all aspects of their life, not just academics. It also makes it easier to involve parents as the goals will be applicable to them. 

Additionally, aligning IEP goals with what the child needs at home and in the community allows for greater consistency and reinforcement of skills, making it more likely that the child will achieve long-term success.

This comprehensive approach requires collaboration with parents to understand the child’s full range of needs and to create goals that are relevant and meaningful across all settings.

Parents as Members of Multidisciplinary Teams

Now, lets get into 3 simple ways you can partner with parents as part of your multidisciplinary teams whether that be at an IEP table, or therapy setting.

When working with parents in multidisciplinary teams, the first key to effective partnership is assessing both the student’s and the family’s strengths and needs, not just within the school environment but also at home and in the community.

By understanding the challenges and resources the family faces outside of school, professionals can tailor their support to address the child’s needs.

For example, if a child struggles with behaviors at home that are not evident at school, these issues should still be considered when setting goals and developing strategies. This broader assessment helps create a more complete picture of the child, ensuring that the interventions are relevant and effective across all aspects of their life. Using my 10 minute assessment can often kick-start collaboration. 

Collaboration for IEP Goals with Parents

The second way to partner effectively with parents is through inclusive goal setting.

It’s important that IEP goals reflect not just academic needs but also address areas that impact the child’s daily living and overall development. This means involving parents early in the process to gather their input on what’s most important for their child’s progress at home, in school, and in the community.

Goals might include not only academic skills but also practical life skills like potty training, managing behaviors in public settings, or improving eating habits.

By aligning these goals with the family’s priorities and the child’s real-life challenges, professionals can ensure that the IEP supports the child’s growth in a comprehensive way.

Training Parents for Multidisciplinary Teams

The third strategy involves teaching and encouraging parents to use evidence-based practices at home and in the community.

This partnership extends beyond the school day, as the skills children learn in the classroom need to be reinforced in their everyday environments to truly take hold.

Professionals should guide parents on how to implement these practices effectively, such as using positive reinforcement or task analysis to break down complex tasks into manageable steps.

By empowering parents with the right tools and strategies, the child receives consistent support across all areas of their life, leading to better outcomes and more significant progress.

Summary on Multidisciplinary Teams

Partnering with parents is essential for achieving the best outcomes in multidisciplinary teams.

By taking an inclusive approach to assessment, setting goals across environments, and empowering parents with practical strategies, we can ensure that children receive the consistent and comprehensive support they need to thrive across all aspects of their lives.