What Are the Special Education Services Available at
Indian Hill Elementary School?
Contents:
Who Decides What Services My Child Will Receive?
Who are the Special Educators at IHES? (with e-mail links)
There are a variety of services offered at our school. The type of service offered depends on the needs of the student. The IEP team, which includes the child's parents, decides on the best placement for the student, aiming for the least restrictive environment. The LRE is the placement where the student can be with his classmates for as much of the school day as appropriate. Our goal is to make the student as independent from outside assistance as possible, while insuring success in the classroom.
Regular Class with Special Education Teacher Consultation
In this program, the student is in a full-time regular education placement, with interventions and adaptations carried out by the classroom teacher. The teacher consults with special education personnel for additional ideas and materials.
Regular Class with Special Education Personnel Support (Co-teaching)
The student is in a full-time regular education placement, with the special education teacher or supplemental service (speech, OT, PT) teacher coming into the classroom. This teacher could team-teach the regular curriculum, teach small groups, assist with labs and projects, and/or provide interventions in the classroom.
Regular Class With Special Education Pull-out Services
The student is in a full-time regular education placement, with occasional or scheduled pull-out services. The pull-out instruction could include skills preview or review, test preparation, and study skills or organizational assistance. The pull-out could also include Speech and Language, OT and/or PT services.
Regular Class With Extensively Modified Curriculum
In this program, the child is placed in a regular classroom, but the content and materials are adapted to meet IEP goals. Aide services are available, as necessary.
Who Decides What Services My Child Will Receive?
After a child has had a multifactored evaluation, a team, including the child's parents, teachers, school specialists and administrators, will discuss the test results. The child's strengths and weaknesses will be highlighted. With the focus on what the child needs to learn, the team will work together to write an Individualize Education Plan, or an IEP
The IEP will list the specific skills the child needs to learn at that time. The IEP team will then determine the best place for the child to learn those skills. When making this decision, the IEP team must determine the Least Restrictive Environment for the child. The child must be with his peers in a regular classroom setting as much as possible. The team may decide that the child needs services outside of the regular classroom if the child would not be successful even with modifications made on the class activities. IEP goals need to be based on state curriculum.
By law, the school district has to provide the placement that the I.E.P. team has determined to be best for the student.
Who are the Special Educators at Indian Hill Elementary?
The special education staff works as a team to best meet the needs of the students. These staff members consult with regular class teachers and offer ideas on classroom interventions and evaluate the educational, social and behavioral needs of students. If a child is eligible for special education services, the team, including the child's parents, develop an Individualized Education Plan, or IEP, to address the child's specific needs.
Please feel free to contact any of these staff members through the school office, at 272-4703, or directly through e-mail if you have specific questions or concerns.
Academic Specialists:
These teachers work with students who have been identified as having an educational handicap. The students may be seen in a resource room setting or as part of a co-teaching program. These teachers also write Individualized Education Plans and assess each student's progress on his or her goals. An important part of their responsibilities include working with classroom teachers to offer ideas on modifications of assignments and materials and monitoring the progress of students who are seen as having difficulty with grade-level expectations.
Mrs. Anne Vuotto- 3rd grade
Mrs. Terry Mullenax - 4th grade
Mrs. Pat Ressler - 5th grade
Language Therapist:
Ms. Rebecca Bachman works with students who are identified as having a speech and/or language disability. She assists these students with language skills that include listening, speaking, articulation and written expression. Mrs. Smith also consults with classroom teachers to offer suggestions on modifying classroom environments and assignments. She evaluates students who are suspected of having an educational disability and writes IEP goals for the students who qualify for her program.
Reading Specialist:
Mrs. Jennifer Apanites works with small groups of students whose reading test results were in the below-average range. Mrs. Apanites also co-teaches in reading, providing more individualized help for students who are having difficulty in the classroom. She assesses students in academic areas as a part of a multi-factored evaluation for a suspected disability. An important part of Mrs. Apanites's position is to share information on current research and trends in the field of language arts and state achievement testing.
School Psychologist:
Dr. Jane Hopson is our school psychologist. She administers and interprets cognitive, social-emotional and visual motor tests as a part of a multifactored evaluation. Dr. Hopson also consults with teachers, specialists and parents about a student's academic, behavioral and/or social difficulties.`
Occupational Therapist:
Miss Tara Turner is our occupational therapist. She consults with classroom teachers about a student's handwriting and other small-motor skill deficits. She also evaluates and works with students who have impaired motor or sensory functions. O.T. is a related service, which means a student must have a handicapping condition to qualify for in-school therapy.
Physical Therapist:
Mrs. Teresa Kraimer is our school's P.T. She conducts therapy sessions for students to improve strength and/or range of motion. The physical therapist may also recommend adaptive equipment. P.T. is also considered a related service.
Counselors:
Mrs. Linda Mehas and Mrs. Sally Von Lehman are our couselors. This year, Mrs. Von Lehman will work with third graders and fourth graders whose last names begin with A - L. Mrs. Mehas will work with fifth graders and fourth graders whose last names begin with M - Z. The counselors will be teaching health classes and working with individuals and small groups of children. Mrs. Mehas and Mrs. Von Lehman are also the case managers for students on 504 Plans.
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