School Psychological Services

The following major areas of responsibility are assigned to school psychologists; assessment; observation; test administration and interpretation; participation in the Committee on Special Education(CSE), referral, evaluation and placement; monitoring of student progress; consultation with teachers; student and parent counseling; and liaison activities with community agencies and other professionals. Additional functions relating to special education classes include: assisting teachers in the development of interventions to help students in the development of Individualized Education Programs (IEP); monitoring the delivery of services to special education students; coordination CSE annual review meetings; conducting triennial evaluations; exploring out-of-district educational alternatives when necessary; and training teachers in the implementation of new regulations and procedures.

Counseling As A School Related Service

Counseling as a related service will be recommended by the CSE under the following circumstances:

• An emotional or management difficulty interferes with a student's ability to make appropriate educational gains;
• The difficulty is one which in the clinical judgment of the evaluation team, can be addressed through school-related counseling with a qualified professional; and
• The student does not appear at the present time to require medical intervention or a therapeutic milieu in order to make educational gains.

Social Workers

Within the Department of Special Education, the social worker provides the following services; monitoring students' progress; providing transitional support services to students moving into programs that are less restrictive (i.e. when returning to the district from out-of-district placements); providing parent education; intervening during crisis (i.e. child abuse, PINS petitions) and serving as general liaison between school and home.

Children today face a host of challenges that grow more difficult with each coming year. Social Workers support our children and families by providing individual counseling, group counseling (Banana Splits, Social Skills Groups, etc.), anti-bullying and character building programs. Our social workers focus their energies on drug education programs and group counseling for a variety of addictions.

For more information, please see our Crisis Resources and Phone Numbers.

Speech/Language and Hearing Services

Specialists in speech and language assist school staff with the identification and instruction of students with speech, language and hearing disorders. They provide diagnostic and remedial services of students with articulation disorders, stuttering and voice disorders, expressive and receptive language problems, hearing deficits, cerebral dysfunction, oral and motor disorders and cleft palate. Much of the activity of these specialists involves observation, individual testing, conferences with parents and consultations with teachers regarding instructional methods.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is provided in order for s a student with a physical disability to benefit from education or to be maintained in the least restrictive environment. The following services may be provided: coordination between medical agencies and professionals serving the student; evaluation of strength, function, motor development and adaptive need of the student; program planning and treatment program when indicated; consultation with general education teachers in the mainstreaming process; and supervision and instruction of nonprofessional personnel in dealing with the physical needs of the students.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy is provided in order for a student, whose disabilities prevent them from functioning normally within the school environment, to benefit from the education or to be maintained in the least restrictive environment. The duties of the occupational therapist includes individual assessment, increasing strength and quality of movement of the upper extremities necessary for handwriting and other classroom fine motor tasks, modulating a student's sensory responses that interfere with everyday activities, developing the activities of daily living, providing adaptive equipment as necessary and counseling students with disabilities around their participation in activities. The goal of the occupational therapist is to provide appropriate treatment to increase the student's ability to function independently of the school environment.

Hearing Itinerant Services

Hearing Itinerant Services are designed to provide direct specialized instruction to students, age five(5) to twenty one (21) years of age, with hearing impairments who are enrolled in a general or special education program. Specialized instruction in speech, reading and auditory training are provided by a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing. These services are necessary in order for students to benefit from their primary educational program.

Vision Itinerant Services

Vision Itinerant Services are designed to provide direct specialized instruction to students, ages five (5) to twenty one (21) years of age, with visual impairments who are enrolled in a general or special education program by a teacher of the visually impaired. This related service includes direct instruction in the use of various optical aids, use of large print books, worksheets, orientation and mobility services, tactile and recorded material and current technology. Teachers may also assist students in acclimating themselves to new instructional environments and may assist other teachers in meeting the student's educational needs.