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Registered dietitian with WIC - I help ensure the families are supported in understanding the dietary needs for their child. WIC is able to provide tailored food packages for their child.

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Nutrition/WIC - plays an important bridge role in connecting families to special education services. WIC counselors often help identify developmental or feeding concerns early and refer families to the appropriate programs—such as Early Start/regional centers for children under 3 or the local school district for children 3 and over. WIC nutritionists can tailor food packages and offer guidance for children with special needs and refers families to their medical providers for recommendations.

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Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice

A Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice (RDHAP) plays a vital role in supporting children in special education and their families by bridging oral health, education, and family systems of care. Through collaboration with IEP and school health teams, RDHAPs help identify how oral health impacts learning, speech, and behavior, ensuring dental needs are integrated into each child’s individualized plan. They provide preventive care in accessible settings—such as schools, homes, or community centers—while using sensory-sensitive approaches that respect developmental levels. RDHAPs empower families with education, adaptive tools, and home care strategies, helping caregivers navigate dental systems and access specialized resources. By advocating for inclusion, coordinating with interdisciplinary teams, and promoting self-care skills, RDHAPs help children thrive both in their health and educational environments, improving comfort, participation, and quality of life.

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Audiology - Always advocating for early intervention if parents are not a part of it already (great time to ask at either Newborn ABR testing to confirm hearing loss or later); parents are working with IEP's, D/HH teachers, accommodations in the classroom like hearing accessibility technology (HATs). Can take a lot of advocating for your child even if it seems like they're "doing ok".

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Nutrition -

Nutrition is important both at home and at school. Special Education (e.g., feeding therapy at school) and IEPs can help students access preferred foods (if feasible and appropriate) and textures to ensure adequate nutrition.

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1. Desiaire Rickman

2. Public Health

3. The children's hospital I work at cares for children with special healthcare needs of all ages. Patients and their families will likely interact with special education through their social workers, their schools, and through hospital-based services such as UCEDD and STAR. I currently do not work with families or children, but my career goals would be to move into a role that allows me to work with our patient populations directly, getting them connected to the resources that they may not be aware of to support their special education needs.

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Health Administration

My discipline connects hospitals, schools, and community programs to provide coordinated care for children.

It improves access by expanding telehealth, guiding families through insurance, and making services more affordable.

It promotes fairness and inclusion through supportive and culturally sensitive policies.

It offers emotional help by creating counseling and parent support programs.

It empowers families and children to reach their full potential with compassionate and continuous care.

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As a WIC Nutritionist we are able to recognize developmental delays when assessing develpmental miestones, as part of staying in our scope of practice we often make referrals to MD for specific recommendations. We could have more training when working with families that have children with developmental challenges to ensure nutrition education is appropriate. Also It is important to be familiar with the resources available to families

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Registered Dietitian

Support special dietary needs- allergies/food intolerances, texture modifications, menu modifications (diabetes), enteral feeding (use of a feeding tube), oral nutrition supplements

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Public Health

Even though I don’t work directly with families or students, my role in public health often intersects with systems that influence how they access special education services. Understanding special education helps me see where policies and programs can better support inclusive learning environments and reduce barriers to care.

On a personal level, as a mother of a child with Autism who has an IEP, I’ve experienced the complexities of navigating both the health and education systems. That perspective shapes how I think about systems design and equity; not just as concepts, but as lived realities. It reminds me that every data point or policy decision ultimately affects a family trying to advocate for their child’s needs.

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Speech-Language Pathology

SLPs are part of special education team by working with students with communication disorders. SLPs support IEPs by evaluating students and providing interventions/therapy during the school day.

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Family Support: we help advocate for students; make space for families to speak; or speak for families if they aren't comfortable speaking. We attend IEP meetings, identify barriers to service, and help families access services.

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Well, the families I work with will interact with special education mainly through communication and teamwork. I really believe parents and caregivers are an important part of the process, so I try to keep them informed and involved

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Self-advocacy could serve to help families advocate for their/their child's needs within the special education system, as well as helping the child advocate for themselves within the family system.

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Psychology- we can attend IEP meetings and advocate for children and family's needs within and prior to/in support of education services; sometimes may also complete IEEs

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I find it difficult to guide parents in seeking the right accommodations and supports

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Nursing: there is a nurse in IEP meetings, identify health barriers to learning, create emergency care plans

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Where I work, at WIC- we serve families with children under 5. When children have special needs we usually refer them to programs such as their regional center.

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Special Education

We work with families and school personnel to determine if a child is eligible for special education.

We provide accommodations, modifications, and related services to facilitate a child's access to education.