06-18-01
The ASPIIRE Project
Leslie Jackson
AOTA is in its third year as a primary partner on the ASPIIRE (Associations of Service Providers Implementing IDEA Reforms in Education) project. Through ASPIIRE, AOTA has been able to broaden its efforts on behalf of occupational therapy practitioners in schools and early childhood programs and in promoting their role in special education and early intervention. ASPIIRE is one of four IDEA Partnership projects built on the premise that many persons and systems are involved in special education and early intervention, and collaboration among all is crucial to successful outcomes for children.
All IDEA Partnership projects are funded by the U.S. Department of Education to disseminate accurate information about IDEA. The Partnership projects bring people together to ensure that the Partnerships' audiences (service providers, parents, administrators, policymakers) are well informed about the requirements of the 1997 amendments to IDEA. These audiences often disagree on various aspects of the law, during both the legislative process and implementation efforts. The department's goal for the Partnership projects is to ease these tensions by working together.
AOTA is able to use its involvement in ASPIIRE to raise issues; bring its concerns to others; and empower its members through developing and providing access to materials, resources, and training. For example, AOTA has initiated the formation of a cross-Partnership workgroup to explore the appropriate use of paraprofessionals and assistants under IDEA. A focus group will be held this month that will help inform the development of supporting materials and resources for the field. Similarly, AOTA formed a workgroup to look at the role of occupational therapy in addressing children's psychosocial needs in schools and early childhood programs, which will lead to developing OT-specific materials to help practitioners meet children's needs in this area more effectively.
Particularly illustrative of the project's collaborative focus is the national resource Cadre. The Cadre is a joint effort between ASPIIRE and the ILIAD Partnership projects and will serve as a national resource on IDEA to service providers, administrators, parents, policymakers, and others. Cadre members have been identified by each partner and represent a cross-section of special education and early childhood professionals, including occupational therapists. Cadre members are provided with department-approved materials on IDEA and joint training via ASPIIRE and ILIAD to foster information sharing and collaboration. They will be expected to work collaboratively and across disciplines and audiences.
AOTA has identified 34 occupational therapists from 22 states and Germany to serve as its Cadre. These therapists represent school-based or early intervention practice, research, university education, and private practice and were selected on the basis of their participation in the Promoting Partnerships leadership training previously provided by AOTA. AOTA's Cadre members have already begun to address local, state, and regional needs by contacting their state or regional American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and National Education Association counterparts and planning or presenting joint presentations for state or regional OT conferences. Cadre members also are working with program administrators and OT educational programs to disseminate accurate information about IDEA and appropriate OT service delivery. Cadre contact information has been provided to all state association presidents and will be available to interested AOTA members who want to use this resource.
The importance of AOTA's participation in the ASPIIRE project cannot be overstated. AOTA has an excellent opportunity for broader outreach to administrators, policymakers, and parent groups about OT services. The Cadre positions us to positively influence decisions about the need for OT services under IDEA (including addressing children's psychosocial needs and school violence). AOTA's participation in ASPIIRE also increases its visibility with federal and state agencies with an interest in children's needs. Lastly, AOTA can better tailor its efforts to develop appropriate continuing education training opportunities, publications, and other materials highlighting occupational therapy's role under IDEA that will complement ASPIIRE's efforts.
IDEA Partnership Projects
Associations of Service Providers Implementing IDEA Reforms in Education (ASPIIRE): www.ideapractices.org, 887-232-4332
Families and Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE): www.fape.org, 888-248-0822
IDEA Local Implementation by Local Administrators (ILIAD): www.ideapractices.org, 887-232-4332
Policymakers Partnership (PMP): www.ideapolicy.org, 877-IDEA-INFO
Leslie Jackson is AOTA's Federal Affairs representative and ASPIIRE liaison. She can be reached at 301-652-2682, ext. 2023.