Collaborative planning between pediatricians and special educators.

The pediatrician is often the first professional consulted when parents are concerned that their child might have a developmental disability. Current federal laws providing education and related services for the disabled have included the pediatrician as a participant in accessing services available to this population from birth through age 21. A review of the elements of these laws and how the pediatrician can take a more active role with the disabled population is presented, and case examples are cited.