Collaboration Strategies

by Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
​June 16, 2025
Instructing students in the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) requires a collaborative, team-based approach. Effective collaboration ensures consistency, maximizes student progress, and leverages the expertise of all team members.

The ECC is a Team Effort

Each professional on a student’s educational team contributes to their development:
  • Occupational Therapists may address daily living skills and fine motor needs.
  • Speech-Language Pathologists may focus on communication and social interaction.
  • Special Education Teachers and Paraprofessionals often support daily instruction and functional skill development.
While each team member works within their area of expertise, cross-disciplinary collaboration enhances outcomes. Just as a Physical Therapist may request follow-through on positioning throughout the day, or an SLP may encourage consistent use of communication devices, the TVI relies on team members to support ECC goals throughout the student’s daily routine.
Co-treatment—where two or more professionals deliver instruction together—can be especially effective. For instance, a TVI and OT might co-teach a cooking activity where the OT focuses on fine motor tasks while the TVI embeds ECC goals related to sensory access or assistive tool use.
Important Note: Only certified Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments should provide direct instruction in braille literacy or other specialized visual impairment instruction. 

Coach Your Teams

One of your key responsibilities as a TVI is to coach and guide team members:
  • Assess team strengths, needs, and motivations.
  • Avoid jargon, or explain it clearly when used.
  • Be specific when describing the student’s visual needs and required accommodations.
  • Provide constructive feedback and collaborate to solve problems.
  • Foster trust by being reliable, professional, and respectful of others’ time and contributions.

Contribute to Positive Team Interactions

Supportive teams are built on mutual respect and shared responsibility. As a TVI, you can foster positivity by:
  • Building rapport with each team member.
  • Listening to concerns and input from others.
  • Being open to learning from team members’ areas of expertise.
  • Providing clear, thoughtful feedback.
  • Sharing relevant resources and pointing team members to trusted sources of information.

Tips for Working with New Teams

When starting a new school year—or when new team members join:
  • Introduce yourself early and proactively.
  • Share a concise summary of the student’s visual condition, learning style, and accommodations.
  • Review the student’s file before meeting with the team.
  • Use vision simulation activities to help others better understand the student’s experience.
  • Invite dialogue and listen respectfully to team members’ concerns and questions.
Vision simulations are also helpful mid-year if:
  • New tools are introduced,
  • The student’s visual needs have changed, or
  • Additional team understanding is needed.

Be Dependable and Flexible

When creating your service schedule:
  • Work collaboratively with teachers to determine the most appropriate time to see the student.
  • Avoid pulling students from core academics or assessments whenever possible.
  • Once established, stick to your schedule to demonstrate dependability.
  • When changes occur (as they often do), communicate clearly and apologize for disruptions.

Customize Consultation

Consultation needs will vary by team:
  • Some teams will require frequent support, especially if they are new to visual impairment.
  • Others may only need periodic check-ins.
Be responsive and ready to assist when challenges arise. If you don’t know the answer to a question:
  • Be honest, and let the team know you’ll find out.
  • Then, follow through quickly with accurate, helpful information.​​

Develop Positive Relationships

Trust is the foundation of strong collaboration. You can build positive relationships by:
  • Being present and consistent.
  • Respecting others’ space and time.
  • Listening without judgment, especially if a team member has had negative experiences in the past.
  • Remaining supportive and encouraging, even when it takes time to earn trust.

​Make Communication Count

Good communication is intentional. To build understanding:
  • Listen more than you speak.
  • Don’t listen to reply—listen to understand.
  • Avoid jargon and use clear, concise language when offering strategies.
  • Focus on how your suggestions help meet the student’s visual and educational needs, rather than proving your expertise.

Keep the Focus on the Student

Conflict and disagreement may arise within any team. When it does:
  • Refocus on the student and shared goals.
  • Address concerns with kindness, professionalism, and discretion.
  • Offer and accept apologies readily.
  • Avoid gossip or criticism—remember, teams are small, and connections run deep.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
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