Topic outline
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Dr. Toni Linder describes the benefits of family partnership in the assessment process for the families, for the assessment team, school district, and intervention team. The assessment process should identify more than the eligibility of the child and IEP goals. A holistic, authentic assessment should help families and professionals understand what underlying processes will lead to the development of skills, why these are important for the child's development, and what strategies will support learning. Being integral to the assessment also builds connections between home and school.
The webinar emphasized the critical role of family engagement in early childhood assessments, covering contemporary trends, shifting from age-based deficit models to strengths-based, individualized assessments that consider a child's interests and cultural background. Key points discussed included understanding the cultural influences on child development, differentiating between disability and cultural differences, and involving families actively during assessments to illuminate children's learning processes. Effective documentation and the benefits of including families in the assessment team enhances IEP goal development.
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One hour of credit will be provided after activity is marked as complete and Feedback Survey has been submitted.
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