Use of Design Thinking to Inform Eligibility Recommendations for Children With Spoken Language and Literacy Disorders in Schools
Purpose The purpose of this tutorial was to consider and apply design thinking to the clinical process of determining eligibility for special education and related services for students with spoken language and literacy disorders in school-based settings. Specifically, we will consider some of the predicaments that multidisciplinary assessment teams face when applying legal criteria and local procedures to referral and assessment processes, as well as the actual application of eligibility criteria, particularly when considering issues related to referral for an assessment for a suspected spoken language or literacy disorder. Method Design thinking is a human-centered, iterative process that can be used to problem solve issues at the individual and system levels. We applied the IDEO design thinking process model, which includes five phases (i.e., discovery, interpretation, ideation, experimentation, and evolution), to the process of determining eligibility in school-based settings. Our exploration included a review of predicaments that sometimes arise during the eligibility determination process. Results We applied design thinking to a specific predicament in the eligibility determination process. We also used design thinking to develop several guiding questions for two additional eligibility predicaments. Conclusions Design thinking is a robust and structured framework used to make decisions and solve problems in a variety of settings. Given its human-centered focus, it is appropriate to use within the context of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. Using a human-centered approach helps retain the “I” in “IEP” (Individualized Education Program) and ensure that the unique needs of students with communication disorders are met.