A full complement of services to meet all student needs
For those with IEP-related and treatment plan needs, Spaulding can offer a full complement of services both on- and off-campus including:
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Speech and language therapy
- Social work
- ABA services

Occupational therapy
Our occupational therapy (OT) services provide students with engaging activities to promote health, well-being and independence. This type of therapy assists students with any meaningful activity they wish or need to accomplish, such as schoolwork, vocational tasks and leisure activities.
Academically, OT focuses on fine-motor skills for schoolwork and completion of activities of daily living (ADLs), with accommodations made for sensory sensitivities. OT at Spaulding is unique, as it utilizes technology to meet students’ sensory needs and help them to prepare for instances like medical and dental appointments. In conjunction with the technology department, virtual reality scenarios are used to introduce students to various environments including a mountain-biking trail and dentists offices.

Physical therapy
Spaulding’s physical therapy (PT) services focus on helping students to physically access and participate in all the wonderful components of the programming. Being able to participate in physical education class, recess, EChO programming and even walking our sprawling campus are all physical challenges experienced at Spaulding daily. Our PT services help to make these achievements possible through direct services, consultation and program development.
Speech and language therapy
Speech and Language Therapy at Spaulding serves approximately 85 percent of our academic student population. We offer a full spectrum of services — individual, group and consolation — that target a variety of needs: articulation, language (expressive and receptive), social skills, feeding therapy and augmentative communication. Our newly constructed Speech and Language Suite includes two individual treatment rooms, a collaborative group space, a playroom and therapist offices.


Social Work
Our School Social Workers (SSW) provide evidence-based education, behavior, social emotional learning and mental health services to support students’ academic and behavioral outcomes. SSWs are available to provide immediate support during crises, offering emotional assistance to students, staff and families, and coordinating with mental health professionals and community resources to ensure comprehensive care.
SSWs regularly collaborate with students’ internal school teams, residential teams and Local Education Agency teams, as well as with external resources such as DCYF and mental health agencies. A large part of this work includes bridging gaps between home, school and community, ensuring that students and families have access to necessary resources.
ABA Services
Behavioral supports at Spaulding Academy are an integral part of our universal programming. Behaviorally, we serve students with a wide range of challenges, including emotional/behavioral struggles, neurological-biological issues and difficulties with their adaptive functioning. Function-based behavioral supports and trauma-focused interactions aim to improve overall well-being by addressing behavioral health needs impacting a student accessing the least restrictive education environment. ABA services focus on teaching new behaviors to improve the student’s quality of life.

Questions?
If you are interested in learning more about Spaulding’s services or have questions, please contact us.