While SOS stands for Specialist of Schools, it can also be a resource for parents concerned about their children’s education. The membership is multidisciplinary but joined together by their emphasis on educational issues within their specialty. Thus, parents can be assured that the professionals listed on this site apply their special skills to educational issues and are able to assist in diagnosing, understanding or remediating the problem. Some members work in schools, using their knowledge to work in the classroom; some are school administrators; others are in private practice and welcome inquiries.

Following is a brief explanation of member specialties:

Assessment/Testing Specialist – Members in this category provide individual diagnostic and assessment measures to identify cognitive, educational, social and emotional issues that may account for students’ problems. Some may be educators, others psychologists, and within this category might be Occupational and Speech Therapists.

Educational Consultant – Members in this category specialize in acquiring personal knowledge of educational institutions in order to guide parents and students in selecting the best school, college or special program to suit their needs.

Psychotherapist – Members who provide this service may be psychologists, social workers or mental health counselors. They may offer individual, group or family therapy, and sometimes specialize in play therapy, behavior therapy and other approaches to address client’s emotional issues.

Learning Specialist – Members in this category are highly trained educators who apply their expertise either in an educational setting or in private practice to address the needs of many different kinds of learning disabilities. They may offer tutoring, set up programs, and train others to address learning needs, among other services.

Psychologist – Psychologists may offer therapy, assessment, classroom consultation, even education to parents to help them better understand their child’s needs. School psychologists tend to consult with classroom teachers and administrators and provide individual assessment within an institution.

Reading Specialists – These members have expertise in the diagnosis and remediation of reading disabilities, and are specially trained to work with individuals diagnosed with reading problems. They offer remediation, tutoring, and advice to classroom teachers working with such students.

Occupational Therapists – These members are health professionals who are trained and licensed to determine skill levels and develop a suitable program. The field is concerned with utilizing craft, exercise or other specific activities to build on and expand skills. They may work in groups or individually, in private practice or in school or hospital settings.

Speech/Language Pathologists – These professionals are trained to evaluate and treat individuals who have speech/articulation, language/literacy, voice, fluency (stammering/stuttering), hearing and swallowing problems that affect their ability to communicate. A speech/language pathologist must hold a master's degree and the Certificate of Clinical Competence in order to be licensed in the state of Pennsylvania. Any therapist working with children in a private practice or clinical setting must be licensed and certified.

Tutors – These members are trained educators, usually with a master’s degree in a specialty. They provide hourly one-on-one teaching and remediation to students in an identified area of need. They may be in private practice, or within a school or college setting.