School age students, ages 3-21 years, who qualify for special education services under IDEIA are identified as having disabilities in the following areas: Autism, Cognitive Disabilities, Multiple Disabilities, Specific Learning Disabilities, Other Health Impairment, Orthopedic Handicapped, Severe Emotional Disturbance, Hearing Impairment, Visual Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, Speech/Language Disability, Deaf-Blind.
Special education services for each student with disabilities are written into each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). Services may be provided in a variety of settings, with the goal being to educate each student in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE); which means providing services in the regular classroom environment to the maximum extent possible.
The continuum of services available to students with disabilities include: Collaboration/Consultation Services in the Regular Education Classes, Supplemental Services Teacher, Inclusion, Individual/Small Group Instruction, Resource Room, Special Class, Separate Facility, Home Instruction, Institutions and Hospitals.
In addition, students with disabilities may receive related services which are support services needed to allow the student to benefit from his/her educational program. Related services could include: Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech and Language, Audiological, Interpreter, Orientation & Mobility, School Psychological, Transportation, Work-Study, nursing services, and assistants.
Preschool children with disabilities, beginning on their third birthday, are entitled to the same type of services as are school age students.
Child Identification
For children birth to age three, a disability means an established condition known to result in a developmental delay or a documented developmental delay.
For children age three through five, a disability means that a child has a documented deficit in one or more of the following developmental areas: communication, vision, hearing, motor skills, social emotional/behavioral functioning, self-help skills and/or cognitive skills.
For school-age students, a disability means that a student has been identified as having one or more of the following conditions: autism, deaf-blindness; hearing impairment (including deafness), multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment (including blindness), cognitive disabilities and emotional disturbance.
Notify Your District Office
If you know a child who is suspected of having a disability, please contact the Special Services Office at 330-364-0600 extension 4021.