Interest-based technical assistance (IBTA) is linking the needs of the student with educational strategies in the context of rights and responsibilities under IDEA and Section 504.  IBTA explores new ways of thinking about the team meeting process by identifying the unique needs of the child, exploring pertinent facts and interests, developing educational strategies, and ending with creative collaboration based on informed consent.

The value if IBTA is that it…

• Saves time
• Reduces emotional costs
• Has the potential to reduce financial costs
• Establishes a new level of trust and respect
• Asks previously unanswered questions
• Deescalates frustration and anxiety
• Facilitates the exchange of vital information from informal and formal assessments and evaluations
• Focuses on the unique needs of the student
• Supports informed decision-making
• Encourages creative collaboration
• Provides a neutral evaluation of the current situation
• Deals with the interests and positions of the team members
• Is fair, impartial, and effective
• Creates understanding of the process and the unique needs of the child

IBTA involves…

• Active listening
• Disclosure discussions
• Neutralizing strong emotions
• Systems change to prevent recurrence of the problem(s)
• Bringing the right support people to the table
• Identifying reasonable expectations
• Evaluating obstacles and attitudes to creative collaboration

In IBTA, interests relate to the issues to be decided or the decision to be made.