Standards for Interprofessional Collaboration in the Treatment of Individuals With Autism
Use the six collaboration standards to turn team fights into one shared client goal.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Bowman et al. (2021) wrote a position paper. They asked, "How can autism teams stop fighting and start working together?"
The authors watched many teams. They saw the same fights about goals, data, and who decides. They turned these fights into six clear rules any team can use.
What they found
The paper gives six ready-to-copy standards. Rule one: write one sentence that says what the client wants. Do this before you pick programs.
Other rules cover shared data, shared language, and how to solve fights fast. No new numbers; just a map you can print and tape to the wall.
How this fits with other research
Boivin et al. (2021) took the same six rules and built a BCBA supervision rotation. Trainees spend weeks inside speech, OT, and PT rooms to practice the rules.
Donnelly et al. (2025) moved the rules even earlier. They run half-day workshops where ABA, speech, and OT students plan one fake case together. This extends the paper into pre-service training.
Slim et al. (2021) looks like a twin. Both papers came out the same year and translate teamwork into behavior-speak. Slim gives language for empathy; Bowman gives the six-step checklist. Use them side-by-side.
Why it matters
If your team argues about goals, data sheets, or who runs parent training, these six lines can end the fight today. Post the shared-goal sentence at the top of every meeting note. When conflict pops up, read rule four aloud and follow the fix-it steps. Your next session runs smoother, and the family hears one clear voice instead of three competing ones.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Interprofessional collaboration has become an essential component in the treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, as practitioners from a range of disciplines are often necessary to address the core features and co-occurring conditions. Theoretically, such cross-disciplinary collaboration results in superior client care and maximal outcomes by capitalizing on the unique expertise of each collaborating team member. However, conflict in collaborative practice is not uncommon given that the treatment providers come from varying educational backgrounds and may have opposing core values, fundamental goals, and overall approaches. Although the overarching interest of each of these professionals is to improve client outcomes and quality of life, they may be unequipped to effectively navigate the barriers to collaboration. This article reviews the potential benefits and misconceptions surrounding interprofessional collaboration and highlights common sources of conflict. As a proposed solution to many of the identified issues, we offer a set of standards for effective collaborative practice in the interprofessional treatment of autism spectrum disorder. These standards prioritize client care and value each discipline’s education and unique contributions. They are intended to function as core standards for all treatment team members, promote unity, prevent conflict, and ultimately help practitioners achieve the most integrated collaborative practice among professionals of varying disciplines.
Behavior Analysis in Practice, 2021 · doi:10.1007/s40617-021-00560-0