A Rationale and Guidelines for Establishing Special Education Consultation Programs

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive definition of consultation for use by school personnel and teacher educators in establishing consultation programs. A rationale is presented listing 12 major benefits for use of such programs. Seven guidelines are identified for use when establishing teacher consultation programs. These guidelines are based on experiences establishing such programs and from preparing teachers to serve as special education consultants. This paper is an adaptation and extension of an earlier set of recommendations for establishing special education consultation programs provided to all state departments of education in the United States and approved by the National Task Force on School Consultation, sponsored by the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children (Idol, 1986).