Sharmila Roy
Neurodiversity Expert | Program Chair
Educational therapists are school and community change agents. We are advocates who empower students by helping them understand their strengths.
About
SHARMILA ROY, Ph.D., began her teaching journey in India and pursued further training in the United Kingdom before earning her doctorate in Special Education from the University of Buffalo in New York. She brings over three decades of expertise in special education to her role as program chair of the Special Education Teacher Assistant certificate program at UCSC Silicon Valley Extension. Roy, a founding chair of the Educational Therapy certificate program and instructor at Extension since 2007 has been an integral global leader in trends in the growing field of neurodiversity.
She works in private practice as an educational therapist in the San Francisco Bay Area providing customized support to students and has been a dedicated advocate for minority families navigating the complexities of the special education system.
Roy has focused on enhancing math learning experiences for students with learning disabilities using Universal Design for Learning and multisensory structured instruction. Her specialization includes developing number sense in K-7th grade students and supporting executive function skills in middle to high school students and young adults. Her work as an educational therapist includes advocating for students with learning disabilities and she has supported many neurodivergent students attain accommodations in the classroom.
She has contributed significantly to professional development for educators, allied professionals, parents, and organizations supporting struggling students and young adults. As a sought-after speaker, she has presented at Stanford University Department of Psychiatry (learning disorders), San Jose State University (executive functions for students with learning disabilities), and the Schwab Learning Center (how to pursue what you love). Roy is a Professional Board Member of the National Center for Learning Disabilities.
