Consultation Services


When a parent or school district initiates an admissions inquiry with HMS, the process may not result in a placement at our school or it may be clear from the start that the child will remain in a local program. HMS offers a range of consultation services that benefit children within their school-district setting, from direct student interventions to staff training and support.

We conduct multidisciplinary evaluations for special education; speech/language, physical and occupational therapies; feeding and psychological issues. We can provide evaluations and/or training in assistive technology: switch access, augmentative communication devices, computer access, power mobility and environmental controls. We also evaluate “non-testable” students for basic communication avenues.

HMS trains special education professionals in best practices related to specialized techniques for handling and positioning, activities of daily living, meaningful switch-motivating activities and development of individualized student vocabulary for use with communication devices. We offer sensitivity and awareness training around the special classroom issues of children with multiple disabilities. And we conduct staff training in models of multidisciplinary collaboration that maximize each child’s development.

“The focus on communication has opened up a new level of awareness and curiosity in my daughter. The staff encourages her to find creative ways to express herself, which has unlocked her potential in all areas of her life.”

– Parent Chris Darpino

For children with sensory needs, we provide assessments, development of a “sensory diet,” training in effective teaching techniques and identification of appropriate equipment and training in how to use it.

For more information on these services, please contact our Admissions Coordinator at admissions@hmsschool.org or call 215-222-2566 x211.