May 18th is Speech-Language Pathologist Appreciation Day, and at Anderson School we have so much to celebrate! Learn how our dedicated SLPs, Vanessa and Taylor, support students in building receptive and expressive communication skills through individualized therapies, collaborative classroom activities, and a wide range of communication systems.
At Anderson School, nurses play an essential role in helping students with complex medical needs learn, grow, and feel safe each day. From providing skilled medical care in the classroom to building meaningful relationships with students and families, our registered nurses bring compassion, confidence, and calm to every moment. On Nurses Appreciation Day, we celebrate the dedicated nursing team whose care gives families peace of mind and helps students thrive.
Early communication starts at birth, and for infants and toddlers with hearing loss, early support can make a lasting difference. In honor of Better Hearing Month, we highlight how Early Intervention Services guide families with practical strategies and personalized care to help children build strong communication skills from the very beginning.
April is Autism Acceptance Month, a time to foster understanding, inclusion, and support for children with autism and their families. At Partners in Child Development, we know that early identification and intervention can make a meaningful difference during a child’s most critical years of development. Through our Early Intervention Services, we provide expert care, reduce barriers to evaluation, and empower families with the tools and support they need, because every child deserves the opportunity to thrive.
Strong leadership helps children and families thrive. With a deep personal connection to early intervention, Board Chair Tricia Sabulis brings passion, experience, and vision to Partners in Child Development. Inspired by her daughter Hannah’s journey, Tricia is committed to expanding programs, supporting families, and strengthening the organization’s impact, because every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Finding support can feel overwhelming. No one understands better than another parent who’s been there. Through the Massachusetts Parent to Parent (P2P) Program, families are connected with trained Volunteer Support Parents who share similar experiences, cultures, and languages. Operated by the Federation for Children with Special Needs, P2P offers compassionate, one-on-one emotional support for caregivers of children with disabilities or medical complexities. Because every family deserves to feel understood.
Ensuring infants and toddlers get proper nutrition is essential for healthy growth and development. Early Intervention Services works with families to address feeding challenges, support weight gain, and guide transitions from breast or bottle feeding to solid foods. Our specialists provide practical, personalized strategies in the home or childcare setting—helping children thrive while giving parents confidence and peace of mind.
Sensory exploration is a powerful part of learning at Anderson School. Through creative, thoughtfully designed activities and immersive sensory room experiences, students with cortical visual impairment are supported in learning through touch, movement, smell, and choice. By centering fun, independence, and student control, our teachers and specialists create meaningful opportunities for learning, connection, and joy while helping every child’s personality shine.
Strong relationships are central to meaningful learning. In a Reggio-inspired early childhood program, ongoing communication between families and teachers builds true partnership, makes children’s learning visible, and supports each child’s growth from toddlerhood through Pre-K. Together, families and educators help children feel seen, supported, and celebrated.
Most Early Intervention Services take place in a family’s home. It is our privilege to coach parents and caregivers on how to integrate skills and strategies into their daily routines. By working with a child and family in their own environment, we can use familiar toys and everyday activities to support and achieve a child’s developmental goals.
We love to share stories about children to whom we provided Early Intervention Services when parents and caregivers give us an update on their child’s progress.
Our Executive Director, Chris Hunt, and Anderson School Director, Brian Saad, attended a recent celebration of IDEA’s 50th.
November marks a significant milestone for special education as it was November 1975 when the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guaranteed children with disabilities the right to free public education.
New skills are often developed when a child is playing with items in a sensory bin. Digging, sorting, investigating, and exploring are part of the discoveries a child can make. Sensory bins can also be a great way for children to get used to textures.
Premature infants are, by definition, born prior to 37 weeks gestation. When a baby is born prematurely, the medical staff completes a series of assessments to evaluate their health and development. Premature infants are at a higher risk of complications due to underdeveloped organs and systems.
