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Dr. Sapthami Patel Hebbal Raju is part of our network as a speech language pathologist at Souderton Mennonite Autistic Support Montgomery County Intermediate Unit - Preschool Early Intervention.
In addition to her amazing contributions to the children she treats, she recently was recognized with the ASHA Award for Continuing Education (ACE). The ACE Award highlights her commitment to lifelong learning and her dedication and extra professional development effort.
Sapthami shares how she got started, what she loves most about school-based pediatric speech language therapy, and her advice for others considering this rewarding role.
What inspired you to become a therapist?
During my time volunteering at a non-governmental organization (NGO), I encountered a young child who was living with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. This child had just received an AAC device but was struggling with bleeding ears and had difficulty expressing pain. When I reached out to the assigned special education teacher, I learned that this child had been abandoned by her birth parents after the diagnosis.
The NGO and the school had stepped in to provide shelter, healthcare, and education because, unfortunately, in India, there are many children like her who have been left behind. I was heartbroken to hear how the stigma surrounding disorder and therapy services had led some parents to abandon their children.
In our community, the challenges are compounded by a lack of support and sufficient resources. While there are some government services and NGOs offering limited free therapy, it often isn’t enough.
This experience ignited a deep passion within me to raise awareness in local and rural areas. I feel driven to provide support and services and to enhance my knowledge so that I can make positive differences in these children and their caregivers in navigating these challenges
What do you like about being a school-based therapist?
When I work with kids, I feel like I'm not just making a difference in their lives, but being a part of their world throughout their journey. In working at a school, I feel like I am part of the community as well.
Also having the entire support system of OT, PT, BCBA, and RBT, and other speech-language pathologists is great. You can reach out to any of them because ours is a multidisciplinary team.
As an independent contractor, I like the flexibility of the school schedule as it also allows me to pursue my passion for traveling.
What do you like about working with Kelly Pediatric Therapy?
As a first-generation immigrant in the healthcare field and having moved to the United States, I can wholeheartedly say that Kelly Pediatric Therapy has been a game changer for me!
This incredible opportunity as a clinical fellow, then a school-based therapist, has allowed me to not only work, but also learn and grow. From learning every new format of documentation to receiving unparalleled support, the experience has been nothing short of amazing.
Kelly Pediatric Therapy provides ASHA- approved CEU credits. They bring in so many experienced speakers and award winners to help us understand and grow.
There is a professional development opportunity every single month. Whenever you want to learn something new, like the sensory regulation or a behavioral aspect, there is always something or someone available. Having those kinds of tools from a behavioral therapist is important for a speech-language therapist.
There are also monthly meetings with breakout rooms where all the specialized disciplines are put together to discuss challenging cases. The other experienced people can help you resolve issues.
And if you're starting your career from the beginning, I think having that kind of immense support and experienced people alongside you is amazing.
The Kelly Pediatric Therapy team is truly fantastic, and I feel so lucky to have an incredible director and co-worker who has become a good friend along the way. Every day brings a new adventure!
Grow your career with Kelly Pediatric Therapy.
More and more school districts are partnering with a staffing company to hire school-based therapists. At Kelly Pediatric Therapy we work with occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, psychologists, mental health professionals, and other clinicians to connect school-based placements.
If you're looking to move forward in your professional career in a way that supports growth, balance, and impact—learn more about working with us as a school-based therapist.
When you work with Kelly Pediatric Therapy, you’ll enjoy competitive pay, compensation for documentation, access to mentorship, free professional development, and work-free nights, weekends, and holidays.
Learn more about joining our team.
