This present study aims to identify and describe the behavior of professionals that work in the school and the family of children with disabilities that promote and maintain an effective and successful collaborative partnership, as viewed from both sides. The study was carried out with four focal groups, composed by families (FAM1 and FAM2) and professionals (PROF1 and PROF2). Two phases of data collection were conducted. In Phase 1 the meetings aimed to identify the components of collaborative partnerships. In Phase 2 each of the focal groups was confronted with data obtained during the first phase, i.e. the parents were presented with the data given by the professionals and vice versa. By qualitative analyses of the obtained data, the categories elicited by the participants related to the behaviors that should be emitted were identified and described. The study pointed out that among the elicited categories, essential characteristics of the collaborative process can be observed, such as mutual respect, communication, trust, participation, amicability, sincerity and impartiality. It is expected that the survey and description of the categories will guide professionals and family members of disabled children in search of successful and effective collaborative partnership.
family-school relationship; collaborative partnership; children with disability; special education
