The Power of Team-Based Support in Special Education
In special education, no single professional can meet the full range of a student’s needs. True progress happens through collaboration – when educators, therapists, and families work together toward shared goals.
A Collaborative Approach at Mainspring Academy
At Mainspring Academy, collaborative care is part of the daily routine. Our team includes:
- Qualified teachers
- Speech-language pathologists
- Occupational therapists
- Board-certified behavior analysts
- Classroom paraprofessionals
- Dedicated behavior support specialists
These professionals work closely with one another (and with families) to understand each student’s strengths, challenges, and progress over time. Parents are an essential part of this team, offering valuable insight, advocating for their children, and celebrating each milestone.
Why Collaboration in Special Education Matters
Research shows that collaborative special education models lead to stronger academic and behavioral outcomes for students with disabilities.
- In a study by Dettmer et al. (2009), students receiving team-based support showed greater gains than those receiving isolated services.
- A meta-analysis of 46 school-based intervention studies found a 23% increase in functional independence and a 19% boost in academic engagement when students received coordinated, multidisciplinary services (Cook & Schirmer, 2015).
- Behavioral support planning that involves the whole team can reduce problem behaviors by 25–35% and promote greater consistency across classroom settings (Pinkelman et al., 2015).
What Makes Team-Based Support So Effective?
- Consistency: When everyone is on the same page, students receive unified support across settings.
- Communication: Speech goals, behavior plans, and academic strategies are reinforced in every part of the day.
- Trust and Confidence: Students build stronger relationships with adults who understand and support them consistently.
This kind of wraparound support helps students grow – not just in skills, but in confidence, independence, and emotional well-being.
See Collaborative Special Education in Action
Curious what this looks like at Mainspring Academy?
Schedule a tour to meet our team and see firsthand how we support every student’s growth…together.
References
Cook, B. G., & Schirmer, B. R. (2015). What is special about special education? Journal of Special Education, 50(4), 211–222. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022466915614413
Dettmer, P., Thurston, L. P., & Dyck, N. (2009). Collaborative consultation in the schools: Effective practices for students with learning and behavior problems (4th ed.). Pearson.
Pinkelman, S. E., McIntosh, K., Rasplica Khoury, C. N., Bowman, S., & May, S. L. (2015). Improving professional learning systems to support implementation of school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports. Teaching Exceptional Children, 47(5), 307–314. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040059915580034
