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Quotes:
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
- Confucius
Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
The most important of life's battles is the one we fight daily in the silent chambers of the soul.
- David O. McKay
Let your heart guide you. It whispers, so listen closely.
- The Land Before Time
Genuine change is never a function of dominance, or even education, but of empathy and common ground.
- Alan Briskin
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What is a Community of Practice?
A community of practice is a group of individuals who share an interest in a particular area. The purpose of a community of practice is to share expertise, issues, and solutions, exchange knowledge, and develop individual capabilities. They also present opportunities for participants to network and learn from each other.
The six TATS communities of practice include:
 Curriculum and Instruction- Evaluation and Assessment
- Family Involvement
- Inclusion/Continuum of Supports
- Program Effectiveness/Program Quality
- Transition
(Click on one of the links above to explore a community)
Membership in a community of practice is not limited to experts in that particular topic, but rather it is a learning community of individuals with shared interests from various areas of expertise and perspectives. Through participation in the communities of practice, family members and professionals share knowledge with one another and initiate collaborative actions that seek to improve outcomes for children with disabilities and their families
Some activities of communities of practice include:
- phone or email conferences
- websites with information and chat boards
- listservs
- meetings/conferences/institutes
- discussion forums
In order to facilitate these communities of practice, a workgroup has been identified within each community to function as the core and help assure that the communities remain viable and active. These workgroups are responsible for identifying research and evidenced-based recommended practices, and strategies for implementation of those practices. They consist of small groups of family members and professionals who demonstrate strength or expertise in the identified priority area.
If you are interested in joining one or more of the TATS Communities of Practice, click the following link: http://www.tats.ucf.edu/Forms/EnrollForm_Community_of_Practice.html to make your selection. TATS will send out broadcast emails announcing the addition of new information to the web (resources, discussions, chats) or events (teleconference, meeting).
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