Team Working
Gillian Hazell
SLT/AAC Specialist
AAC Consultancy
We will consider:
• Barriers to team working
• Types of teams
• Responsibilities of teams
• Teaming Strategy
• Barriers to team working
Barriers to successful models of
working
• Policy
• Practice
• Attitude
• Knowledge
• Communication
• Lack of skills
• Access
Team member contributions
Glennan & deCoste 1997 “A Handbook of AAC” p29
Administrator
Admin, funding sources for devices and
services
AAC Consultant
AAC resources, AAC systems, effective
practices, AAC training and information
Educators (teacher,
classroom assistant)
Curriculum needs, classroom
communication needs, functional skills,
Occupational Therapist
Physical access issues, mounting devices,
seating, positioning
Physiotherapist
Physical access issues, mounting devices,
seating, positioning
Friends and family
Individual preferences, age-appropriate
needs, message selection ideas,
motivating communication targets,
programming AAC device
Hearing Consultant
Auditory skills and needs
Manufacturer’s
representative
Technical assistance, feature match,
maintenance, technical backup,
Paraprofessionals
Assist with manipulation of system in
environment, develop overlays, program
device
Personal attendant
Environmental issues, script messages,
program devices
Physician/nurse
Relevant medical needs
Psychologist
Cognitive/linguistic skills
Rehab engineer
Customisation, design, on-going technical
assistance
Residential staff
Identify and prioritise activities, target
activities, ensure system access,
program device.
School principal
Staff release for training, co-ordinate
team process
Service co-ordinator/Case
Manager
Interagency co-ordination, available
resources, funding options
SLT
Language development, communication
skills, support implementation of system,
script message, develop and organise
overlays
Vision Consultant
Visual acuity, visual perception, symbol
selection
Vocational Counsellor
Vocational evaluations, transition
planning, funding options.
Multidisciplinary Team
Glennan & deCoste 1997 “A Handbook of AAC” p24
Therapist
Therapist
Therapist
AAC
speaker +
family
Natural
Environment
Natural
Support
Therapist
Interdisciplinary Team
Glennan & deCoste 1997 “A Handbook of AAC” p24
Therapist
Therapist
Therapist
Therapist
AAC
speaker +
family
Natural
Environment
Natural
Support
• Transdisciplinarity signifies a unity of
knowledge beyond disciplines.
•
Basarab Nicolescu (Ed.) Transdisciplinarity – Theory and Practice, Hampton Press, Cresskill, NJ,
USA, 2008
• “Transdisciplinarity does not seek a
mastery in several disciplines but aims
to open all disciplines to what they have
in common and to what lies beyond their
boundaries”
Article 3 Charter of Transdisciplinarity 1994
Transdisciplinary Team
Glennan & deCoste 1997 “A Handbook of AAC” p154
Therapist
Therapist
Therapist
Therapist
AAC
speaker +
family
Natural
Environment
Natural
Support
Collaborative Team
Glennan & deCoste 1997 “A Handbook of AAC” p154
Therapist
Therapist
AAC
speaker +
family
Therapist
Therapist
Natural
Support
Aim: A Collaborative Extended
AAC Team
Glennan & deCoste 1997 “A Handbook of AAC” p154
Extended
AAC Team
SubTeam
SubTeam
Core
AAC
Team
SubTeam
SubTeam
SubTeam
Responsibilities of the Team
Dependent on:
• The structure of the team
• Composition of the team
• Age of client
• Disabilities
• Influence of AAC speaker and family
• Knowledge and skill of team members
• Time management