Using Family Case Studies with Graduate Students through Transdisciplinary Graduate Education

Abstract

Graduate students in early childhood special education, occupational therapy, and physical therapy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) are educated using a transdisciplinary model in which emerging professionals and families of children with special needs work together by exchanging expertise to jointly solve problems, plan, and implement evidence-based interventions. The goal is to ensure that the early intervention/education experiences achieve desired child and family outcomes. A major component of the preparation of the graduate students is learning to work collaboratively with families. The purpose of this article is to describe the process early childhood special education, occupational therapy, and physical therapy graduate students experience through team-based problem solving with case studies of young children with delays or disabilities and their families.