P.G. Chambers School is nationally recognized for the training and continuing education that it provides for special educators, parents, therapists, and paraprofessionals. A core element of our mission is a strong commitment to improving the expertise of those who work with children with developmental disabilities, and providing education and information that supports families.

P.G. Chambers School has a strong commitment to professional development to build and enrich staff expertise throughout our School programs. In addition to training designed to build and maintain staff skills, our professional personnel provide training to P.G. Chambers School families.

In-Person Professional Development Opportunities: 

• April 1: P.G. Chambers School is excited to offer an in-person course on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), providing a deep dive into AAC assessment, implementation, and coaching strategies. You will learn about a variety of robust language systems and alternative access methods. Click here to learn more about the course, including an agenda and registration information; this course will be in-person at P.G. Chambers School (15 Halko Dr, Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927).

Online Webinar Professional Development Opportunities: 

• April 14-15: Treatment of Motor Issues in Children with Sensory Dysfunction with Liesa Ritchie-Persaud
• June 9, 10, 16: Awareness of Self in Space: Gross to Fine Motor Approach with Melissa Gerber and Josephine Bardabelias
• July 24-25: Cognitive & Executive Function: Evidence Based Assessment and Intervention Tools to Improve Participation with Jeryl Benson
• August 22: Practical and Effective Strategies to Improve Self-Regulation and Executive Function with Jocelynn Wallach
• October 24-25: Treatment Strategies for the Improvement of Oral, Pharyngeal, Feeding/Swallowing, and Respiratory Coordination Function: The Child with Neuromuscular Involvement with Rona Alexander
• December 2, 4, 9, 11: Handling Interventions: Using NDT to Increase Function and Participation with Bethanne Mazuczak and Leslie Paparsnos

Internships are available in five professional categories:

• Education
• Speech & Language Pathology
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Nursing

Individuals interested in P.G. Chambers School internships should speak with their advisors or departmental internship coordinators at their schools to arrange referrals and interviews.

Student teachers participate in a fieldwork assignment at the undergraduate and graduate levels (full or part-time basis) working in a classroom with a cooperating certified special education teacher.

• Typical and atypical development
• Assessment
• Classroom management
• Technology

In accordance with standard practices of the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), student clinicians are supervised by speech-language pathologists licensed by the state of New Jersey and accredited with a Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA.

Typical graduate internships run 10 to 18 weeks. Students are guided through a continuum of learning phases: observation, planning, co-treatment, and treatment. Individuals interested in a graduate student internship should contact their university. Undergraduates may request observation hours.

• Dysphagia
• Child language disorders
• Augmentative Alternative Communication (ACC)
• Phonological disorders
• Clinical practicum

P.G. Chambers School regularly hosts graduate level 1 and level 2 occupational therapy students from affiliated college-level programs in the Tri-State area and beyond. By the completion of their fieldwork, occupational therapy students have been mentored by highly skilled occupational therapy clinical supervisors in a variety of occupational therapy programs and practice areas. These may include sensory integration, manual therapies, splinting and adaptations, assistive technology, feeding and mealtimes, activities of daily living and life skills, social emotional learning, and visual motor and fine motor approaches. The occupational therapy department strongly supports the training, education, and professional development of future occupational therapists. They also frequently host observers who need hours to support their application to college-level occupational therapy programs.

• Neuroscience and gross anatomy
• Pediatric reflexes
• Normal, abnormal, and developmental psychology
• Pathophysiology
• Developmental milestones
• Pediatric assessments
• Therapy ball techniques
• Sensory integration
• Splinting
• Adaptive equipment
• Technology

Pediatric clinical affiliations are 12 weeks in length with a focus on training and educating graduate students to gain intensive hands-on clinical experience for the pediatric population, ranging from complex medical to developmental delayed school aged children (3- 21 years of age), under the direct supervision of licensed physical therapists. Nearly 100% of our physical therapists are certified by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) as Credentialed Clinical Instructors, having completed the APTA’s Credentialed Clinical Instructor Training Program.

• Pediatric Coursework
• Pathophysiology
• Anatomy and neuroscience
• Orthotics
• Neurotypical and Neurodivergent Development
• Musculoskeletal assessment
• Kinesiology

Undergraduate and graduate student nurses participate in a school-based fieldwork assignment (full or part-time basis) at P.G. Chambers School under the supervision of a certified school nurse. Students will have an opportunity to collaborate with special educators and therapists, and gain experience with a varied population of students with multiple disabilities and developmental delays. This field placement uses a case study approach to learning about the role of the school nurse in working in the special education environment.

• Human growth and development
• School nursing
• Special education