Barriers to Effective Special Education Consultation

Abstract

Special education consultation is widely supported by teacher educators as a necessary component of the role of the special educator, particularly those educators being trained to work with mildly handicapped students. Data indicate, however, that in practice special educators spend very little of their time consulting. This article examines (a) the emergence of the consulting movement, (b) barriers that impede consultation from being integrated into the role of the special educator, and (c) ways to address those barriers.