The role of the nurse on a transdisciplinary early intervention assessment team

Assessing young children with disabilities is a complex process requiring the expertise of a team of professionals from several disciplines. Team members often include the child's family members, early childhood special educators, clinical psychologists, speech-language pathologists, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, pediatricians, and nurses. A team approach meets standards of best practice in early childhood intervention and encourages full family participation in the assessment process. This article explores the process of team building, role release through a transdisciplinary approach, and a nurse's role on a transdisciplinary assessment team.