One to One Educational Assistants

One to one educational assistants are sometimes provided for students with severe difficulties (e.g. elopement, severe behavior/aggression, etc.). While one to one assistants can be highly successful interventions for some students, there are potential problems that may arise. First, students may become overly dependant on their one to one assistants. This can be prevented by having the one to one assistant encourage the student to function as independently as possible. It is also important that the student work with as many staff members in the classroom as possible to promote generalization. Since the mandate is to place all special education students in the least restrictive environment (LRE), the use of a one to one assistant may allow the student to be placed in their general education classroom. The use of the one to one assistant still, however, represents a restriction in itself that must be eventually faded to allow the student to function independently. Desirable attributes in a one to one assistant include the ability to set appropriate boundaries, to respond calmly to stressful situations, and to demonstrate a respectful, caring, attitude with high expectations and an emphasis on positive reinforcement of desired behaviors. Furthermore, the one to one assistant should have sufficient training, especially if the student has a emergency behavior protocol that includes physical restraint as a last resort.