Special Educator

Join Our Team

At Finger Lakes Therapy Works, we believe children make the greatest progress when they receive support in the environments where they learn, play, and feel most comfortable. That's why we bring speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and special education directly into homes, childcare settings, preschools, schools, and community locations throughout the Finger Lakes region.

As a New York State-approved Early Intervention and Preschool provider, we partner with families to help children reach meaningful developmental milestones through compassionate, individualized, and evidence-based care.

We are looking for passionate Special Educators who believe that families are essential partners, learning happens through everyday experiences, and every child deserves the opportunity to thrive.

Mission:
Meeting your child where they are.

The Special Educator provides individualized developmental and educational services to infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children with developmental delays or disabilities within their natural environments. Through play-based intervention, family coaching, and collaborative goal planning, this role promotes children's cognitive, communication, social-emotional, adaptive, and school readiness skills.

Unlike traditional classroom-based special education positions, this role emphasizes family-centered coaching, functional skill development, and embedding learning opportunities into children's everyday routines and environments.

We believe great clinicians deserve a workplace where they can thrive.

We offer:

• Flexible scheduling that supports work-life balance
• Clinical autonomy with a supportive leadership team
• Collaborative interdisciplinary care alongside Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, School Psychologists, and Service Coordinators
• Opportunities for mentorship and professional growth
• Meaningful relationships with children and families
• Diverse and engaging community-based work environments
• A mission-driven culture focused on helping children achieve their greatest potential

• Conduct developmental evaluations using standardized and observational assessment tools.
• Identify children's strengths, developmental needs, and functional priorities.
• Develop, implement, and monitor Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) and contribute to Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), as appropriate.
• Establish measurable developmental outcomes in collaboration with families and the interdisciplinary team.

• Deliver individualized, play-based developmental instruction within children's natural environments.
• Promote cognitive, communication, adaptive, social-emotional, and early learning skills.
• Adapt instructional strategies to meet each child's unique strengths, interests, and developmental needs.
• Incorporate evidence-based intervention techniques that promote meaningful participation in everyday routines.

• Coach caregivers to embed developmental strategies into daily routines, play, meals, community activities, and family interactions.
• Empower families through education, encouragement, and practical strategies that support continued learning outside of therapy sessions.
• Foster trusting relationships that encourage family engagement and long-term success.

• Collaborate with Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists, School Psychologists, physicians, childcare providers, and community partners.
• Participate in interdisciplinary meetings, case conferences, and transition planning.
• Coordinate services that support each child's developmental goals across environments.

• Complete evaluations, progress reports, session documentation, and required records accurately and within established timelines.
• Monitor developmental progress and modify intervention strategies as needed.
• Maintain compliance with New York State Early Intervention, Preschool Special Education, and Finger Lakes Therapy Works documentation standards.