DR. TERESE PAWLETKO

Consulting Pediatric/School Psychologist

 

Phone:

603-396-1645

 

Email:

teresepawl@gmail.com

 

Certifications/Licensure:

  • Certified School Psychologist - NH

  • Licensed Psychologist - NH #981

  • Certified School Psychologist - Maine

  • Licensed Psychologist - Maine PS1303

  • Certified School Psychologist - Connecticut

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Specializing in assessing children and adolescents with visual impairments, autism, learning disabilities and other developmental issues

PROFESSIONAL OVERVIEW

Dr. Terese Pawletko has worked with children since 1976, first as a teacher of the visually impaired, then as school and pediatric psychologist. Since 2001, Dr. Pawletko has been in private practice, evaluating children with autism spectrum disorders, visual impairments and other learning and developmental challenges.  

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CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN MEDICAL & EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS

Starting in 1989, after completing a postdoctoral fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at UNC-Chapel Hill, she worked as consult-liaison psychologist at the UNC School of Medicine with children with chronic illness, their parents and medical teams, as well as with children and adults with autism, their parents, and related service providers. In 1997 she joined the staff of the Maryland School for the Blind, where she worked with children with a variety of disabilities including visual impairment, autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities and learning disabilities, as well as training staff to work with these students. In her private practice, Dr. Pawletko has consulted with public school districts around New England.

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SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE IN AUTISM & VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS

While at the Maryland School for the Blind, Dr. Pawletko and her colleagues developed the first program in the country for children with visual impairment and autism. She is considered a national expert in this area and has presented at regional, national, and international conferences, conducted evaluations of children suspected of dual diagnosis, and provided consultation to and training of parents and service providers.  

 

EXPERIENCE

2001-Present

Private Practice

PEDIATRIC/SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST & CONSULTANT

Throughout New England.  Specialty evaluations across the United States.

Fall 2006

Adjunct Faculty

ANTIOCH NEW ENGLAND GRADUATE SCHOOL

Keene, New Hampshire

1997-2001

School Psychologist

MARYLAND SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND

Baltimore, Maryland

1989-1997

Assistant Professor of Psychology

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA - CHAPEL HILL SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics

1991-1997

Consulting Psychologist

CAROLINA LIVING & LEARNING CENTER, TEACCH
 (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children), Chapel Hill, North Carolina

1987-1988

School Psychologist

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT #43
Newport, New Hampshire

1986-1987

Clinical Child Psychology Intern

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA - CHAPEL HILL SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Department of Psychiatry

1979-1981

Teacher/Consultant

DIOCESAN HUMAN RELATIONS SERVICES

Orono, Maine.  Teacher and consultant for the visually impaired.

Summer 1979

Director

PROJECT CO-OP, KEENE STATE COLLEGE 

Summer training program for teachers of visually impaired and vocational education; residential program for visually impaired adolescents.  Keene, New Hampshire

1977-1979

Teacher/Consultant 

NEW HAMPSHIRE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR THE VISUALLY HANDICAPPED

Nashua, New Hampshire

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EDUCATION

1988-89

Fellow

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Pediatric Psychology

1988

Ph.D.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY

School Psychology

1985

M.S.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY

School Psychology

1976

B.S. Ed.

ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY

Education of Blind/Visually Impaired

 

SERVICES

Evaluation & Assessment of Children & Adolescents with Vision Impairments

Consultation & Intervention Recommendations

Evaluation & Assessment of Children & Adolescents with Autism

Staff Training &

Professional Workshops

SAMPLE ASSIGNMENTS & CLIENTS

Consultant/psychologist to school districts throughout New England.  Populations include children with autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, visual impairments (including cerebral visual impairments).

 

Mentoring, consultation & training throughout the United States on how to work with children with significant visual impairments and autism spectrum disorders.

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Specialty evaluations, consultations and inservice training throughout New England, nationally and internationally on children with visual impairments and autism spectrum disorders. 

 

Program development for children with significant impairments and autism spectrum disorders.  Cork CABAS School, County Cork, Ireland.

 

Workshop presenter at professional conferences and training programs throughout the United States  

 

SERVICES

Evaluation & Assessment of Children & Adolescents with Vision Impairments

Consultation & Intervention Recommendations

Evaluation & Assessment of Children & Adolescents with Autism

Staff Training &

Professional Workshops

 

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

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Dr. Pawletko is the author of numerous professional papers and book chapters - and has led workshops and training programs throughout the country throughout her career.  

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Download Dr. Pawletko's CV for a partial list of her publications and presentations

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Many of her publications are available online on the Texas School for the Blind website.

PARENT & EDUCATOR TESTIMONIALS

"Terese joined us for 2 days doing a very thorough evaluation. The process was long and complex and she was very professional.  She made me feel comfortable when I told her all about him and our lives.   She was compassionate, easy going and polite. 
During the meeting with the IEP team it became very apparent she was advocating for my child. She was forth coming on the things that were going well for him and the things that weren’t. The path we were on at that time would not have led him to become the young adult he is today. Because of her encouragement and expertise the team shifted gears. It was decided to send him to a residential school for the blind. My son is currently an active member of our community. He is part of self-advocate group, a men’s group and global campus. He also volunteers at the Habitat for Humanity one day a week. Plus he is employed with assistance from  a job coach. Recently, I needed another evaluation on my son for guardianship. Terese was prompt with responding and did not hesitate to help. She has dealt with the court system before and knew exactly what to do.
Terese still emails or texts to follow up. She enjoys hearing all about his accomplishments and what he is doing for fun and work. She really cares about her clients. It was a pleasure to meet Terese and we enjoy having her as a part of our lives.
"Bringing Terese in to work with one of my students and her team 6 years ago was one of the best professional decisions I have ever made. As a team we were struggling to figure out how to best support and educate a young child with blindness and autism.  The expertise, knowledge, compassion and creativity that Terese brought to the table proved to be a watershed moment in this student's education and in my professional life.  Terese spent several days with the student, her family and team members listening, learning about the child and teaching us.  We were all impressed not only with her knowledge but with her skill as a consultant.  She has a remarkable way of making each member of the team feel valued, respected, and grateful for her advice. Her visit, training, and report provided us with the direction and foundation we needed to build an effective educational program for this student. Years later, although that student's day-to-day activities have continued to evolve, her program still rests soundly on the principles and approach that Terese provided us. Since then I have been fortunate to work with Terese on several other students, and the result as always been the same: confident, energized teams, grateful to have the knowledge and direction to implement an intentional, effective program for their student for years to come. 

WORKSHOP EVALUATIONS

 
Thank you!  Best presentation of this material I have ever heard!
Wonderful
speaker
This was a great workshop. The parent I invited found it so true as it relates to her as it relates to her son’s life. 
She was an energetic and knowledgeable presenter.
Great information and resources

 

© 2020 By Terese Pawletko

Website by Wilson & Gould

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