Our team

Η group consists of stable and reliable partners, of all specialties in the field of special education, graduates of Greek and European universities or technological institutions. Over the years, and since our Centre is the oldest in the field, many remarkable colleagues have collaborated with us and contributed to improving the services provided at all levels. They have also passed the baton to younger people whom they have sometimes trained.

Meet our Therapists

Below you will find all our partners in order of priority and hierarchy of our therapeutic team:

Ruli Granitsiotou - Tsilividou - Founder

Η Roulis Granitsiotou-Tsilividou was born and raised in Athens. She is the mother of two children. She studied physiotherapy at the Higher School of Physiotherapy of the Ministry of Health. She specialised in paediatric physiotherapy at the Greek Society for the Protection and Rehabilitation of Disabled Children ELEPAP and in 1972-73 she specialised in neuro-evolutionary NDT therapy (Bobath approach) at the University Children's Clinic in Zurich.

In 1978-79 he taught “rehabilitation methods in cerebral palsy” at the Higher School of Health and Social Welfare Executives KATEE Athens. He has participated in post-graduate seminars on cerebral palsy in Greece, Europe, America and Australia.

She has attended as a visiting fellow in pediatric physical therapy at Harvard University Hospital - Boston Children's Hospital. He has also participated in many international conferences and symposia on pediatric physical therapy. He has established the Scientific Workshop for Children (annual conference on cerebral palsy) from 1986 to 1995 with the participation of Greek and foreign experts (medical therapists).

He is a member of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM), the International Cerebral Palsy Society (ICPS), the Association of Paediatric Physiotherapists of England (APCP), and the International Guiding System Society “PETO ANDRAS”.

Her consultative nature towards all our partners and her extremely important experience in the field of rehabilitation of children with mobility difficulties make her the most important and at the same time the most necessary member of our team.

Maria-Io Tsilividou - General Manager

H Maria Tsilividou is a psychologist specialised in clinical psychology and psychopathology, a graduate of the University of Paris 5 Rene Desccartes. She completed her studies in 2008 during which she participated in several therapeutic settings in Paris and Athens with different populations such as children, adolescents, adult psychiatric patients, day centres for children with autism, associations of AIDS patients, children with eating disorders at the Athens Children's Hospital.

He has trained and administered a multitude of psychometric and screening tests to children, has participated in multidisciplinary teams in Paris composed of all paramedical and medical specialties in the field. She has attended and contributed to the paediatric and developmental medicine programme of the P.N.G.G. ATTIKON for 2 years, during which, she participated in the administration and evaluation of visiting children and provided support to their parents after difficult diagnosis announcements.

At the same time, she collaborated with a public school of all levels (Kindergarten, Nursery, Primary, Secondary and High School) where she covered assessments, parent information sessions and contributed to the support of students and teachers. She is a member of the Association of Greek Psychologists SEPS. She has provided a significant number of children and adults with psychotherapy and parenting counselling.

She has organized numerous therapeutic programs based on family needs protocols and has trained many new colleagues either by her physical presence at the time of the session or by supervision.

From time to time she has responded to invitations to speak at kindergartens or schools mainly at the urging of parents’ associations on issues concerning developmental deficits or behavioural difficulties in children. She has covered a vocational orientation programme for children in B and C high school at the Greek-French School of Agia Paraskevi (LFH) with a focus on Psychology.

From 2008 until today she continues the work of the Special Children's Centre as head of the team.

Irini Scrapa - Speech and Language Therapy - Assistant Manager

Η Irene Scrapa was born in Athens and is the mother of two children. She is a graduate of the speech therapy department of the Ioannina TEI since 2010 and holds a Master's degree (Msc) in Pedagogy and Teaching Aptitude from the Philips University of Nicosia. At the same time she has completed her postgraduate training in Special Education through the Hellenic Mediterranean University.

She has many years of experience in the field of speech and communication disorders. Since 2010, she has handled numerous cases with developmental and neurological disorders. She has been trained in alternative communication methods such as PECS and MACATON, the TEACCH structured program, as well as administering weighted tests related to speech, communication and learning. She has attended numerous workshops and seminars related to special education.

She has worked with nurseries in which she was responsible for evaluations of children at the request of teachers. Since 2012 she has worked as the main speech and language therapist at the Special Children's Center and since 2019 she has been acting as a sub-director, covering all caseload information from therapists, supervision and organization of the speech and language therapy department and the formulation of treatment programs. She is co-responsible for staffing human resources, manning therapy equipment and supplies, arranging written evaluations and initial appointments for assessment.

Within the framework of the long-standing cooperation with the Centre, she has taken part in lectures in public and private kindergartens to inform parents about the physiological developmental stages. She has also participated as a speaker at the 10th Panhellenic Conference entitled «Education and Culture in the 21st Century».

It has acquired all the expertise required for the operation, the and the way an organised system works in the provision of special education services.

Ioannis Papadakos - Secretarial assistant

He was born on the west side of Athens in April 1972. He is a graduate of the School of Social Sciences of the Athens University of Economics and Business Administration. He has participated in European projects, Socrates Erasmus / Lingua financial direction in international registration and inventory systems.

She has attended seminars on organizational culture and time management with modern practices, digital marketing and online branding. His innate ability to organize and manage crisis to achieve smooth business operations are skills that were further cultivated during his 20-year tenure at the Special Children's Center of West Attica, where he is responsible for all telephone support, pleasantly greeting parents, issuing receipts, medical screening schedule, updating program changes where needed, the business cashier and informing parents of the entire reimbursement process from the funds Possesses all the necessary qualifications for this position, with the main attribute of being courteous and cheerful on a daily basis.

Nikolaos Zouros - Child Psychiatrist - Scientific Director

He was born in 1970 in Mytilene. In 1995 he graduated from the Medical School of Athens and in 2004 he received the title of Medical Specialist in Child Psychiatry.

He worked from 1996 to 1997 in military service as a medical doctor. Subsequently, until 1998 in the field service at the P.I. Lefkimi Corfu and until 2000 at the Psychiatric Department of the P.G.N. «Evangelismos».

From 2000 to 2001 he worked at the Neurological Department of the General Hospital «Aghia Sophia», and later, until 2003 at the Child Psychiatric Hospital of Attica, and from 2012 until today he collaborates with us as the responsible child psychiatrist, as well as with the Foundation for the Child «Pammakaristos», where he has been the scientific director since 2014.

He has participated in many workshops and conferences and has made many presentations, while he has also taken part in pan-European research, participated in the translation of foreign language texts, and has done significant educational work both as a trainee and as a trainer.

He examines children at our Centre in the presence of parents, siblings or other family members every 15 days and has the ability to issue opinions and medical referrals to children who wish to join a treatment programme at the Centre. As well as undertaking referrals of files for the CDCs and being responsible for diagnoses, treatment protocols and supervising the entire multidisciplinary team.

Despina Pediaditi - Special Educator

Despina Pediaditi is a special educator, graduate of the Department of Philosophy - Pedagogy - Psychology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens with a Master's degree in Special Education from the Department of Early Childhood Education of the same University. Since 2007, our partner, the first in seniority, has been undertaking the assessment, intervention and support of students with special educational needs (Special Learning Difficulties, General Learning Difficulties, Attention Deficit Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, etc.) in primary and secondary education as well as the guidance of their parents. At the same time, in recent years she has been working in KEDASY of the Ministry of Education, while previously she has been employed in public secondary schools, supported living homes for people with disabilities and day centres.

She has an excellent knowledge of special education science and the best way to create the therapeutic relationship that is needed with children and their parents, so that they can gradually achieve all the necessary steps for the awareness and subsequent improvement of their learning difficulties.

Anthi Klona - Occupational therapist - Head of the Occupational Therapy Department

Anthi Clona is a graduate of the Occupational Therapy Department of the University of West Attica, member of the Panhellenic Association of Occupational Therapists with a professional license. During her studies she gained experience as an intern at the Attica Psychiatric Hospital «Dafni», at the Association of Maritime Parents of Children with Special Needs «Argo» and at the Spastic Protection Society «Porta Open».

She works with preschool and school-age children with developmental disorders, specifically with Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, dyspraxia, mental retardation and children with neurodevelopmental disorders (cerebral palsy) etc. She is trained in Sensory Integration, the TEACCH structured program, the PECS alternative communication method, as well as administering assessment tools (DTVP, VMI, Sensory Profile).

She has attended seminars on dysgraphia, dyspraxia and eating disorders. She continually educates herself and keeps up to date on issues in the field of occupational therapy by attending seminars and supervisory meetings in Pediatric Occupational Therapy. She serves as our primary occupational therapist and her ethos, consistency and calm personality are the traits that make her an excellent professional and a valuable partner.

Lydia Gerpini - Psychologist - Head of Psychological Support Department (Psychologist)

Lydia Gerpini is a Psychologist, graduate of the Department of Psychology of the University of Ioannina. She is currently training in the four-year postgraduate program in Systemic Psychotherapy and Counselling at the «Laboratory of Systemic Psychology and Pedagogy - RODAKINO».

In 2020, she completed the nine-month training program specializing in the promotion of mental health of children and adolescents at the Centre for Training & Lifelong Learning (K.E.DI.VI.M.) of the University of West Attica. She has also completed a post-graduate program specializing in Special Education and mental health promotion in the school environment. At the same time, she has attended and participated in training seminars and workshops on mental health. As part of her internship, and subsequently her clinical and professional experience, she works as a psychologist in special treatment centres, providing psychological support to children and adolescents, as well as parental counselling and individual psychotherapy sessions for adults.

In addition, she participates voluntarily in a psychosocial support program for children living in the infirmary of Penteli (formerly PIKPA), conducting individual and group sessions. She puts extraordinary zeal and great effort in all the families she takes care of, maintaining therapeutic confidentiality and the continuous scientific information that this sector needs. It is impressive the good rapport she develops with all the children from the very first session.

Georgia Stamatis - Speech Therapist

Georgia Stamatis is a Speech and Language Therapist and in particular a graduate of the University of England Canterbury Christ Church University and holds a professional license after an equivalence procedure of her degree from the Ministry of Education.

In addition, she has attended trainings and seminars related to language and language disorders in preschool and early school age children, articulation and phonological disorders as well as the administration of weighted tests related to speech, communication and language development.

She works with the Special Children's Center as a core speech and language therapist and is supervised by the Institute for Speech and Language Therapy Research and Education. She provides her services with accountability and exceptional consistency in meeting the demands of the serious needs of our field.

Fani Veliopoulou - Speech and Language Therapist

Velioopoulou Fani was born and raised in the city of Ptolemaida. She is a graduate of the Department of Speech Therapy of Ioannina of the Athens Technological Educational Institute of Epirus. She is the president of the Association of Speech and Language Pathologists of Greece (SELLE). She has served as the president of the Organizing Committee of the 3rd Scientific Conference of Speech and Language Therapy of SELLE and is a member of the Autism Special Interest Group. She has been trained at the University of Volos, Department of Special Education with the annual specialization «Weighted Psychometric Tools and Intervention Planning». She was also trained at the University of the Aegean with the annual specialization «Psychology, Counseling and Life Coaching».

She has been a speaker on speech therapy issues at conferences, schools, day care centers and two years at Egnatia Expo (General Trade Fair of Western Macedonia). She was involved in editing and writing for a bi-monthly newspaper. In addition, she was involved in the editing of a school for parents of children with learning difficulties. She has specialized in the methods of MiniKids, Intensive Interaction, Attention Autism, Simata, Developmental Social Communication Profile (DSCP) - The Circle Model, Social Stories, TEACCH, Palin PCI, Makaton, Lis'n Tell, Cognitive Behavioral Drama (CBD) and VM (Vehicle Model) for the treatment of pediatric feeding disorder. .

She has attended numerous seminars such as: visual perception on the Autistic spectrum, Solution Focused Therapy & SLT, The child with sensory processing difficulties. From problem to solution, CBT & SPEECH FLUENCY DISORDERS, Autism & sexuality, Psychometric tool Logometer etc. She continues to receive systematic seminar and conference training to improve and develop her competence as an active clinician in the science of Speech Therapy.

Antonis Kokavasis - Occupational Therapist

Antonis Kokavasis is a graduate of the Occupational Therapy Department of the University of West Attica and holds a professional license.

During his studies, he gained valuable practical experience through successive clinical placements, focusing on different populations and therapeutic contexts.

His experience in a special kindergarten in West Athens allowed him to expand his knowledge in therapeutic intervention for children with motor, sensory and developmental disorders.
She then trained at the Spastic Protection Society «Open Door», focusing on the assessment and rehabilitation of people with cerebral palsy. There she became familiar with the use of assistive technology while helping to promote active participation of individuals in the community.

At the same time, she worked as a counselor in a camp for people with disabilities in Nea Makri, during which she gained a more comprehensive picture of everyday life and the challenges faced by people with disabilities.

His experience at the Special Lyceum of Ilion allowed him to come into contact with intervention techniques for people with physical disabilities, aiming at their effectiveness and autonomy in the educational environment.

His commitment to the field of occupational therapy and his constant search for improvement of therapeutic interventions make him a dynamic and competent professional in the field of rehabilitation.

Our Physiotherapists

The physiotherapy department is staffed by physiotherapists specialised in paediatric rehabilitation of neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory and developmental disorders.

Our physiotherapists are graduates of the University of West Attica with postgraduate education and many years of experience in the management of motor deficits, deformities and functional difficulties faced by children.

Their continuous training makes the potential of the department very high. Seminars that they have attended, such as the specializations in Bobath-NDT methods, Sensory Integration, the use of Kinesiotape, the Method for the treatment of scoliosis-Schroth, the Functional Evaluation of the lower limbs with the construction of customized orthotic soles and Gait Analysis, certify the prestige of the services that our physiotherapists can offer.

At the same time, they actively participate in numerous domestic and international conferences with their own presentations and papers, constantly learning about developments and new methods in the field of pediatric physiotherapy.

For more details or questions about the department, please contact contact with our Centre or consult the Frequently Asked Questions page by clicking on here.