Understanding the different roles of specialized school staff

Remedial teachers help students who are struggling at school or who have learning difficulties. In this role, they do the following:

• Work closely with the students’ teachers
• Do exercises with the students
• Offer support to the students’ families
• Plan curricula adapted to the students’ needs

Speech therapists are experts in communication, language (understanding, speaking, reading and writing), language-related learning, speech and voice. They can:

• Perform assessments
• Make diagnoses
• Recommend helpful strategies

Special education technicians help students with adjustment difficulties stemming from one of the following conditions:

• A physical or intellectual disability
• A behavioural disorder
• A pervasive development disorder
• A mental illness

Psychoeducators work with students who have adjustment or behavioural disorders. Their goal is to encourage social inclusion and autonomy. Specifically, they do the following:

• Screen students and identify those with difficulties
• Plan and carry out adjustment disorder assessments
• Develop action plans
• Etc.

Psychologists specialize in emotions, mental health, and behaviour. In a school, they do the following:

• Perform assessments
• Make diagnoses
• Recommend intervention strategies and treatments
• Carry out intervention strategies and treatments (e.g., psychotherapy)
• Prescribe medication
• Provide referrals to other resources

Educational consultants are responsible for supporting all school staff members and education services. They have the following responsibilities:

• Help create the school’s educational program
• Develop, implement, and evaluate success plans
• Work with others to set up curricula and training
• Etc.

Guidance counsellors advise students in their career choice by helping them figure out their personality, values, and interests. Here’s a summary of their main tasks:

• Help develop and implement the school’s guidance services
• Observe and evaluate students
• Administer psychometric tests
• Etc.

Occupational therapists are development specialists who aim to help students with the following difficulties:

• Fine motor control issues
• Anxiety
• Coordination issues
• Bad posture
• Writing difficulty
• Dyslexia
• Dysphasia
• Dysorthography
• Etc.

Social workers help families struggling with issues such as violence and delinquency. They do the following:

• Assess the situation
• Look for solutions
• Develop action plans
• Refer families to different specialists or support programs
• Etc.

Attendants help handicapped students get to and from class and ensure their well-being, hygiene, and safety.

If you think your child might benefit from seeing one of these specialists, speak with their teacher. Specialized school staff work together to help each student reach their full potential!

Ordre des conseillers et conseillères d'orientation du Québec

Association des orthopédagogues du Québec

Ordre des orthophonistes et audiologistes du Québec

Ordre des psychoéducateur et psychoéducatrices du Québec

Ordre des psychologues du Québec

Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et des thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec

Association des éducatrices et des éducateurs spécialisés du Québec

Association des Conseillères et Conseillers Pédagogiques du Québec

Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec