Who may suspect disabilities as part of Step Four?

• A. Parents, teachers and other staff
• B. Cafeteria staff only
• C. Students only
• D. Bus drivers

Answer: (A)

Suspecting disabilities comes from the adults who spend time with the child in different settings and can observe how they learn and behave. In Step Four, concerns are raised by those who interact with the student regularly and notice persistent challenges in learning, communication, or social functioning. Parents bring home observations, teachers see school-based performance, and other school staff—counselors, aides, specialists, and administrators—may also notice issues during daily routines and activities. This broad range of observers helps ensure concerns are identified from multiple perspectives.

Focusing only on cafeteria staff or bus drivers misses the most common and comprehensive sources of information, and students themselves, while they may experience difficulties, are not typically the primary individuals to initiate the formal referral process on their own.