Team processes and team care for children with developmental disabilities

Professionals who work with children and adolescents who have developmental disabilities find themselves working with several other professionals on various "teams." These teams are typically composed of practitioners from more than one discipline working toward the single goal of providing comprehensive patient care. Research on medical and psychosocial teams confirms the overwhelming importance of clarity, commitment, and close positive exchanges among team members to promoting successful teamwork. The effectiveness of teams largely depends on how the professionals work to accomplish meeting the needs of their patients. This article reviews multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary approaches to delivering health care to children and adolescents who have developmental disabilities.