School districts employee a variety of specially trained professionals to address the needs of students with disabilities. These are educators and professionals who are specially trained and/or certified to work with students with disabilities. Their services can be supplemental to the general education program or they may be the primary educator that works with a student. It is important for general education teachers to be aware of the service providers available in their District because they can provide support and may offer feedback or suggestions for accommodating students' specialized needs.

Types of in-District special education professionals include:

Guidance Counselor: Guidance counselors may be the most visible member of the special education staff, and they may serve in a hybrid special/general education role. They wear a variety of hats: providing counseling support, transition planning, college counseling, grief support, graduation planning, and health and wellness programming. Guidance counselors are frequently on the front line for addressing social-emotional needs, and coordinate with Student Services when a higher level of intervention is warranted. See here for a statement from the American School Counselor Association of the many roles a guidance counselor can play.

Special Education Teacher: Special Education teachers are certified teachers with a certification in special education. They typically manage the student's IEP and serve as the student's IEP coordinator. There are sub-speciality certifications available, such as Special Education - Hearing Impaired, Special Education - Mentally and/or Physically Handicapped, Special Education - Speech and Language Impaired, and Special Education - Visually Impaired.

Occupational Therapist: School-based occupational therapists provide occupational therapy to students in a school setting. Occupational therapy typically is designed to address deficits in gross and fine motor skills, but also can be offered to support students with developmental delays, behavioral dysregulation, and a variety of other disorders that manifest through physical impairments. Occupational therapists are licensed and typically have a masters degree. See here for a more in-depth discussion of school-based occupational therapy.

Speech-Language Pathologist ("SLP"): SLPs work with students to address speech and language deficits. SLPs can be certified as a Special Education teacher or as a SLP Specialist. Licensure as a Specialist typically requires a masters' degree. SLPs are trained to work with students on virtually all communication issues involving language, articulation, and fluency. They are also involved in the evaluation of students suspected to have a speech/language deficit. See here for more information about the role and responsibilities of school-based SLPs from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

School Psychologist: School psychologists are psychologists trained to work with youth to ensure they have equal access to education despite a myriad of challenges such as mental health issues, adverse social or family situations, social or interpersonal challenges, and school adjustment. School psychologists are frequently heavily involved in the evaluation process, particularly when a psycho-social disability is suspected. See here for a more in-depth description of the role of a school psychologist.

Services may also be contracted out to private providers for services that cannot be offered by District personnel.