Susan A. Shapiro, M.S., CCC-SLP
As a mother and grandmother, Susan believes in treating all of the families she works with the way she would expect herself and her family to be treated. She volunteers her time as a special education surrogate parent advocating for children and adolescents with special needs in the custody of the Department of Children and Families.
Susan is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) passionate about helping all children develop communication skills. Speech and language skills impact all areas of the curriculum and school environments, and are crucial to successful post-secondary transition.
A retired public school related service provider and special education department head, Susan understands the special education process and the importance of collaboration. Together, parents, teachers, specialists, and administrators play an important role in identifying students’ needs, developing and then implementing an effective individualized education plan (IEP). Careful monitoring of students’ progress must then occur in order to make necessary adjustments to the IEP.
Susan is both educational consultant and special education advocate. She will assist you in understanding your basic rights in special education and work with you to advocate for a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for your child.
Licenses and Certification
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education licenses
Commonwealth of MA, Division of Professional Licensure, Board of Speech-Language Pathology
Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Pathology by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association
Training
Federation of Children with Special Needs Parent Consultant Training Institute and internship program, 2015.
Professional Memberships
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys
Special Needs Advocacy Network, Inc.