What are the roles and responsibilities of the professionals in the inclusive classroom?
There is a shift of roles for educational team members in the inclusive classroom. The team approach required for effective inclusive instructional teams requires collaborative skills, information sharing and role release. The general education teacher needs to be informed about individualized learning strategies, IEP goals and effective instructional and behavioral supports for students with IEPs. The special education teacher needs to provide individual adaptations to support the student with disabilities in accessing the general education curriculum and s/he needs to assess and monitor the student’s progress and IEP goals within the general education classroom. The special educator often serves as team coordinator, schedule keeper and liaison. The paraprofessional’s role is to support the student with the IEP in achieving his or her goals and to facilitate relationships between general and special education students. The role of all these professionals is to support both general and
