What is a SEIT? A SEIT stands for Special Education Itinerant Teacher – this most commonly means the teacher comes to the child’s school to serve that child. SEIT teachers often work at more than one school per day. SEITs work closely with the classroom teacher to support their client, and to ensure that their client is able to benefit from learning opportunities in the classroom.
It is our belief that SEITs are most effective when they assist the child’s understanding of the naturally occurring classroom contingencies. Rather than the child viewing the SEIT as the teacher, we want the SEIT to advance the child’s ability to communicate directly to the classroom teachers and the peers. The best SEITs know when to pull back and let the child function independently, or allow a peer to prompt.
Our first goal in beginning services is to build rapport with a child. Many of the children we treat have a history of failure in the classroom setting and do not always view the classroom as a fun and ideal learning environment. School can be unpredictable or anxiety producing if you have language delays, difficulties with distraction or chaotic environments, and/or low tolerance for waiting or being denied access to a favored object or outcome. We are able to increase the prompting provided to a child, as well as increase the positive reinforcement the child receives in the classroom to start to change those contingencies. We work with the teacher to either make small environmental changes to ensure success as well as working with our child to teach the skills needed to succeed in the classroom. We also help our families identify appropriate and “best fit” classrooms for their child.
We customize our SEIT services based on our clients’ needs and circumstances. Some families choose to only use private services, either to keep the quality high or for confidentiality concerns with the educational system. Other families use our services to supplement their EI, CPSE, or CSE services. Regardless of where your child is in school, we will work to form a respectful and professional relationship with the school team. The collaborative efforts of all involved parties is always in our client’s best interest.
Depending on the concerns, Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) hours can be arranged for the school day, home environment, or both environments. For some children, we prefer to use a SEIT arrangement known as “confederate.” This means that the child will not know our SEIT is in the class for him/her but instead will be presented as a new teacher in the classroom. We have found that for children who are classroom capable with mild-to-moderate prompting levels, this arrangement of “less is more” is at times most successful. [Contact us today.]
We provide discrete, high-quality, SEIT services that will maximize your child’s success in school and beyond! If you are interested in our services, please contact us today.
The first step is the initial consultation, where we will come and play with your child for approximately 30 minutes and then spend an additional hour speaking with you.
We will tell you which goals we will work on first and the direction we will take your child’s program. The flat fee for this is $225. We have found this a vital first step to make sure we have a personal connection to each child and family from before treatment starts, and also to ensure there is a good philosophic match.
Contact us here today to discuss how to get started! We service children primarily in Manhattan but are able to provide SEIT agency services for some families in Brooklyn as well.
SEIT FAQs
Can my child’s confidentiality be maintained with a SEIT?
Yes! Our goal is for the SEIT to feel like an assistant teacher in the classroom, there to help anyone. We will never tell another parent that we are there for your child.
Will my child’s school allow this?
Our experience in schools has been that they usually welcome a struggling student getting support. We always stress to the classroom teacher that our job is to make the child successful in their classroom, not to take over their classroom. Many of our referrals come from schools where we have worked previously! In our experience, nearly all private preschools allow SEITS. For public schools, it does vary by principal if they will allow private providers.
Will you work with another SEIT provided by the Board of Education?
Yes, we are always willing to collaborate with other professionals.
Can you help us find a new school?
Once we get to know your child, we can weigh in on the type of environment that will best play to your child’s strengths. We will also make recommendations of schools to tour if you would like to change schools.
Does the SEIT go with my child for the entire school year?
Our goal is always to fade services as quickly as possible. At times, we may recommend your child receive services outside of school to ensure they have adequate time and repetition needed to catch up on the skills that are making the classroom difficult. At home, we can control the pace and activities.
In school, our goal is for our client to stay with the group and be successful in a group. Once the child requires a level of prompting that is manageable for the classroom teacher, we can fade services. We will look at the schedule and see which activities the child is functioning well with the most minimal support and start fading there. For some children, we are with them for less than one school year. For other children, we provide various levels of support for several years.
How do I know if my child needs a SEIT?
Often, schools will request support at parent teacher conferences. If your child has speech or behavioral delays, other members of your child’s treatment team may suggest additional support services. It is better to start with support than to adopt a “wait and see” approach in our experience. It’s always easier to set up good patterns from the beginning than to undo maladaptive behavior or learning patterns already in place.
What do the other kids in the class think?
The other children become our assistants and serve as the best teachers to our client. Very often, we will form a three-way when first advancing social skills of your child, us, and a receptive peer. Once the peers see your child responding and playing, that can then carryover to other times and help form a friendship. We are skilled at identifying the children most receptive to our client and at getting them invested!
Can I get insurance reimbursement for SEIT services?
No, SEIT services are not reimbursed by insurance.
Have questions? Find answers to common questions in our FAQs page.
Contact Us Today
Testimonials
Testimonials on this page and the site are solicited testimonials from professionals we have worked with and former clients.
“Sara Kahn and Dina Danzi are one of the most effective intervention teams in the New York Metropolitan area.”
Gary Mayerson,
a premier NYC-based Autism Attorney
“Sara and Dina are immediately responsive, knowledgeable and excellent therapists so I always know the children will be getting the best intervention.”
Dr. Jennifer Cross, Developmental Pediatrician, Weill Cornell Medical Center
