Professionals involved in SPED

1. Developmental Pediatrician
Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician (DBP) or Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NDD)
is a Pediatrician with advanced specialty training in the physical, emotional, behavioral and
social development of children.
can perform neurological eaminations, interpret the results of psychological testing (as
well as the results of testing by other specialists such as !"#s, P"#s and $peech%&anguage
Pathologists), prescribe medication, oversee the medical evaluation of developmental
disabilities, and serve as long%term members of a child#s care team.
"he ability to synthesize information from multiple sources, and the ability to
provide comprehensive follow-up of developmental issues, are hallmarks of
Developmental Pediatrics.
'. (hild Psychologists
are capable of performing detailed )* "esting and +ducational "esting , things that
Developmental Pediatricians do not do.
often provide ongoing therapy services aimed at helping a child and his or her parents
address behavioral, emotional, and-or educational issues.
are not physicians, and cannot perform a physical eamination, prescribe medication, or
identify underlying medical causes for a developmental or behavioral problem.

.. (hild Psychiatrists
are physicians who have been trained in the recognition and treatment of severe emotional
disturbances in children.
/. (hild Neurologists
are physicians who have been trained in the recognition and treatment of active or
progressive neurological disorders in children (brain tumor, degenerative neurological
disorders, hard%to% control sei0ure disorders, etc.).
1. !ccupational "herapists
help people of all ages to improve their ability to perform tas2s in their daily living and
wor2ing environments.
help clients not only to improve their basic motor functions and reasoning abilities, but also
to compensate for permanent loss of function.
(ommon occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to
participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from in3ury to
regain s2ills, and providing supports for older adults eperiencing physical and cognitive
changes.
4. Physical "herapists
eamine each individual and develop a plan, using treatment techni5ues to promote the
ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability
6. $peech%&anguage Pathologists
sometimes called speech therapists, assess, diagnose, treat and help to prevent disorders
related to speech, language, cognitive%communication, voice, swallowing and fluency.
wor2 with people who cannot produce speech sounds or cannot produce them clearly7 those
with speech rhythm and fluency problems, such as stuttering7 people with voice disorders,
such as inappropriate pitch or harsh voice7 those with problems understanding and
producing language7 and those with cognitive communication impairments, such as
attention, memory and problem solving disorders
8. $chool 9dministrator
usually stands as the chairperson of the team
is responsible for coordinating meetings and delivery of services to students and their
families
he-she also ensures that all legal guidelines for due process, parental involvement,
assessment, and confidentiality have been followed.
"hrough their leadership and support, they can foster a tone of acceptance and commitment
to the concept of mainstreaming
:. $pecial +ducation "eacher
wor2 with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical
disabilities.
"hey adapt general education lessons and teach various sub3ects, such as reading, writing,
and math, to students with mild and moderate disabilities. "hey also teach basic s2ills, such
as literacy and communication techni5ues, to students with severe disabilities.
"hey assist the team in developing an )+P by providing data concerning the student;s
academic and social s2ills, readiness for mainstreaming, and reactions to instructional
techni5ues and materials
they have the primary responsibility for preparing the student for entry into mainstream
1<. =egular (lassroom "eacher
they can provide perspective on the academic and social rigors of the regular education
classroom.
11. P9=+N"$
are the integral member of the team. "hey are the one who spend most time with their child
they can provide the team variety of information related to the child;s behavior, medical,
social and psychological history
they also can assist the team in designing and implementing educational programs and
determining appropriate and related services