Paraprofessionals Facilitation: Strategies for Promoting Interaction and Engagement
Paraprofessionals play a key role in promoting inclusion, learning, and belonging for students with autism and other developmental disabilities. Their primary focus should be on facilitating social and academic engagement by connecting students with peers, teachers, and shared classroom experiences rather than acting as primary instructors. Effective strategies include prompting, guidance, and information to encourage peer interactions while gradually fading support to build student independence. Targeted training and regular supervision help ensure paraprofessionals implement their roles intentionally and in alignment with inclusive, evidence-based practices.
Actionable Steps
- Clarify roles: Review how paraprofessionals are currently assigned and utilized and refocus their responsibilities on facilitation rather than direct instruction.
- Model facilitation strategies: Provide explicit examples and practice opportunities for prompting, reinforcing, and sharing information that encourage peer interaction and academic engagement.
- Plan for fading: Develop intentional plans that identify when and how to gradually reduce adult support as students gain skills and greater independence.
- Embed peer supports: Implement peer-mediated approaches and train paraprofessionals to effectively guide these social interactions.
- Provide ongoing coaching: Schedule regular observation, supervision, and feedback sessions to ensure paraprofessionals continue to build skills that align with inclusive practices.
Resources
- Adult Support Determination Process and Planning Tool
- Avoiding Over-Use of Paraeducator Support for Individual Students. Inclusive Schools Network. (short article)
- Biggs, E. E., Gilson, C. B., & Carter, E. W. (2019). “Developing that balance”: Preparing and supporting special education teachers to work with paraprofessionals. Teacher Education and Special Education, 42(2), 117-131. (research article)
- Chung, Y.-C. (2022). A guide to implementing paraprofessional facilitation. In E. E. Biggs & E. Carter (Eds.), The Power of Peers. TIES Center. (research article)
- High Leverage Practices for Students with Disabilities - Paraeducator Competencies (professional competencies)
- MAASE Paraeducator Learning Series
- Why Schools Overuse Paraprofessionals in Inclusive Education - Interview with Michael Giangreco, PhD (video)
Featuring:
Erik Carter, Ph.D. - Executive Director, Professor and Luther Sweet Endowed Chair in Disabilities, Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities
Erik Carter, Ph.D. is the Executive Director for the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities and was previously Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Special Education at Vanderbilt University. His research and teaching focuses on evidence-based strategies for supporting access to the general curriculum and promoting valued roles in school, work, community, and congregational settings for children and adults with intellectual disability, autism, and multiple disabilities.
Prior to receiving his doctorate, Dr. Carter worked as a high school teacher and transition specialist. He has published more than 200 articles, chapters, and books in the areas of educational, transition, and community services for children and youth with disabilities. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Early Career Research Award from the Council for Exceptional Children, the Early Career Award from the American Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, the Patricia L. Sitlington Research in Transition Award from the Division on Career Development and Transition, the Research Award from the Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities, and the Young Professional Award from the Association of University Centers on Disabilities.