Definition
Multidisciplinary evaluation refers to the process of gathering both formal and informal data from a variety of sources to determine whether a student is eligible for special education services and to provide information about his or her current levels of functioning. “Multidisciplinary” implies that evaluations will be conducted using a team approach in which a number of professionals (e.g., speech/language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, psychologists) gather assessment data about the student.
Historical Background
Prior to the enactment of Public Law 94-142, many students with disabilities were either not being served in public schools or were not receiving appropriate education services. Lack of adequate or appropriate assessments contributed to inaccurate labeling as well as education of students with disabilities. With the support of family associations, the federal government began to develop practices for children with disabilities in the...
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References and Readings
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Melchior, S. (2017). Multidisciplinary Evaluation. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_165-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_165-3
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