Benefits of Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Engaging with interdisciplinary teams not only enhances professional growth but also leads to more effective, student-centered instruction. Collaboration allows educators and specialists to combine their expertise for stronger, more unified support. Key benefits include:
  • Developing a shared language. Working with professionals from different fields helps you understand their terminology, assessment methods, and perspectives. This shared language strengthens communication and ensures everyone is aligned in supporting the student.
  • Providing and receiving student-specific insights. You can share observations about the student’s visual needs and access challenges, while also learning about important behaviors, strengths, or concerns that other team members have noticed.
  • Expanding knowledge across disciplines. Collaboration exposes you to new strategies, tools, and intervention techniques from related fields, such as occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, orientation and mobility, or counseling, which can enhance your instructional approach.
  • Improving instructional alignment. Input from team members helps you individualize instruction, design more meaningful accommodations, and ensure the student experiences consistent, accessible support across all school environments and routines.
Interdisciplinary teamwork enriches your practice and leads to more coordinated, effective educational outcomes for students with visual impairments.

Collaborating with Specialists

​Physical Therapists (PTs)
Collaboration with PTs can support students’ physical positioning, movement, and visual access:
  • Identify the most comfortable and visually optimal positioning for learning and attending.
  • Understand the various postures a student uses throughout the day and ensure that learning activities are accessible in each position.
  • Learn techniques to help students maintain or tolerate positions during PT or classroom activities.
  • Collaborate to design activities suited for each position and location, increasing engagement and access.
  • Strategize how to alternate physical and visual demands across the day to support stamina and participation.
Occupational Therapists (OTs)
Working with OTs enhances your ability to support sensory, self-help, and fine motor development:
  • Coordinate strategies to meet the student’s sensory processing needs during academic and functional activities.
  • Plan supports for mealtime independence or participation, including adapted materials or routines.
  • Collaborate on activities of daily living (ADLs), such as dressing, grooming, or toileting, to foster independence.
  • Partner to adapt fine motor tasks, using specialized materials or tools that align with the student's visual and tactile preferences.
Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)
SLPs play a crucial role in supporting communication and language development, often requiring visual and tactile adaptations:
  • Develop or adapt communication boards that are visually accessible, using appropriate size, contrast, and symbols.
  • Create calendar boxes or tactile schedule systems to support routine understanding and transitions.
  • Adapt choice boards to meet both communication and vision needs.
  • Collaborate on partner-assisted scanning strategies for students with limited mobility or vision.
  • Customize AAC devices and switches to support efficient and accessible communication.
  • Align communication tools and systems with the student’s visual and cognitive abilities for effective use in class and at home.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

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Full Article List

Guide: Start Here
Tools (VI Basics)
Plan: Referrals & Eligibility
Referral & Eligibility​ ​Medical Vision Information 
FVLMALow Vision Evaluations
Other Evaluations
Plan: IEP Planning
Plan: Collaboration & Accessibility
​Collaboration Accessible Materials ​Classroom Access Instructional Access Technology Access ​Additional Supports Service Delivery Models  ​
Teach: Compensatory Skills
Compensatory Skills
Concept Development ​Alternative Communication ​Emergent Literacy ​Braille Code
​Beginning Braille ​ Braille Fluency & Comprehension  Writing Braille ​​​Nemeth Code Instruction 
​​​Tactile Graphics ​Print Concepts ​​Abacus  ​​Organization Skills​ ​​Study Skills ​​Time Management
Teach: Sensory Efficiency Skills
​Auditory & Listening Skills ​​Visual Efficiency Skills ​​Optical Device Use ​Tactile Readiness
Teach: Assistive Technology 
AT Overview ​AT Use & Maintenance Braille AT ​iOS Instruction Audio Access​ ​Video Magnifiers ​​​Basic Computer Use Computer Access ​Productivity
Teach: Social Skills
Social Skill Basics​
Non-Verbal Skills​​​​ Verbal Communication Skills Cooperative Skills Identity & Self-Awareness ​Interactions & Relationships Managing Challenges & Safety
Teach: Self Determination
Teach: Independent Living Skills
Personal Care ​Hygiene & Grooming ​Personal Health Mealtime Skills ​​​ Food Preparation
Household Skills Clothing Management ​Money & Budget Shopping & Consumerism Phone Use ​Safety & Emergency Preparedness ​​Services & Community Resources
Teach: Orientation & Mobility
Teach: Recreation & Leisure
Teach: Career & Vocational
Printables
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Teaching Strategy Printables 
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​Premium FVLMA Printables
​ECC PrintablesCompensatory Skills Printables
Sensory Efficiency Printables
Assistive Technology Printables
Social Skills Printables
Self Determination Printables
Independent Living Printables
Recreation & Leisure Printables
Career & Vocational Printables
Evelyn Jane Stories 
Learn: Teaching Strategies & Planning
Learn: ​ECC Units
Beginning of the Year Units ​​Fall UnitsWinter Units ​​Winter Units ​​Spring UnitsAnytime Units
Learn: ​Interactive Activities
Learn: Recorded Presentations
Learn: Complete Set Bonus ​