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Training early childhood professionals using an interprofessional practice field experience
ARTICLE

Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice Volume 10, Number 1, ISSN 2405-4526 Publisher: Elsevier Ltd

Abstract

The preparation of early childhood professionals to work with children with disabilities and their families traditionally has taken place in the classroom setting. However, changes in legal requirements (i.e. Individuals with Disabilities Education and Improvement Act) and student demographics have required personnel preparation programs to redesign the field experiences that students partake in to connect content, pedagogy, and disposition. Given the complexity of working with children with disabilities and their families, preparing early childhood professionals to work with these children and families within an interdisciplinary context is needed. Partnering with a medical clinic that specifically serves children with disabilities and their families is one way to provide a valuable field experience for preservice early childhood professionals. This article presents the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Service (CMS) clinic experience in which preservice early childhood educators participated. Findings indicate that preservice teachers participating in this field experience gain a broader understanding of partnering with families and professionals across disciplines, and a deeper understanding of disability from a family's perspective. Thus, the article demonstrates the need for preservice professionals to receive training in nontraditional field experiences to better serve children with disabilities and their families.

Citation

Shaffer, L. (2018). Training early childhood professionals using an interprofessional practice field experience. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, 10(1), 47-50. Elsevier Ltd. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from .

This record was imported from Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice on January 29, 2019. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice is a publication of Elsevier.

Full text is availabe on Science Direct: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.xjep.2017.12.002

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