Who Receives Special Education Services?
In order to achieve the Province’s goals of education some children will require special education services. These children are identified by parents and/or classroom teachers along with other members of the School Based Team.
When a new child arrives or a learning difficulty is suspected: the child's teacher and parents request help from the School Based Team; the School Based Team and/or School District Consultants meet with the teacher and parents to:
-identify the problem
-generate practical solutions
-determine the best course of action
-put it in writing (Individual Education Plan - I.E.P.)
-implement the plan to help the child
The Individualized Education Plan (I.E.P.)
Once children are identified as needing special education services, teachers, parents, and other care-givers come together to develop an Individual Education Plan (I.E.P.). An I.E.P. outlines what parents, students, and others can expect regarding a specific child’s educational program. It is a written plan which describes the program modifications and/or adaptations for the student. It does not describe every aspect of the student’s program. Usually two to four major goals are included. These goals refer to those parts of the program that need to be modified or adapted. The I.E.P is a tool to assist teachers in monitoring student progress and to provide a useful basis for reporting. It also identifies the support services to be provided and serves as an on-going record to ensure continuity in programming.
OVERVIEW of Support Services Available
Services for Children with Behavioural/Emotional Challenges
Behaviourally challenging students can be very demanding within classrooms. Consequently schools supply both direct and consultative services which are designed to:
-assist students to reduce the impact of their behaviour on themselves and others
-assist students to maintain attendance in their home/school environment
-assist students to acquire appropriate social skills
-coordinate services when multiple agencies are involved
Services for Children with Speech/Language Problems
Speech Pathologists help children who have disorders in communication. They work with teachers, parents, and students to assist children who have problems with:
-speech
-fluency
-language
-articulation
Services for Children with Hearing Problems
Parents of children with hearing problems can expect that their children will be provided for in regular classrooms in their neighbourhood schools.
Individual tutoring, language development instruction, and teachers of the hearing impaired are used to assist children to achieve the goals of the programs.
For selected students service is also available at the Provincial School for the Deaf, in Burnaby.
Services for Children with Vision Problems
A teacher of the visually impaired, like teachers of the hearing impaired, works with parents, teachers, and students. The teacher of the visually impaired provides:
teachers in-service
-direct instruction
-tutorial services
-orientation and mobility services
Services for Children with Physical/Occupational Therapy Needs
A Physical and Occupational Therapist :
-consults with school and medical staff, about a child’s physical problems
-provides direct physical/occupational therapy to children
-trains paraprofessionals and teachers to help with routines such as seating, positioning, feeding, or other motor activities
Services for Children with Mild Learning Problems
Learning Assistance teachers provide the "front line assistance" for most children with mild learning problems.
Learning Assistance teachers help to identify children who need assistance.
Following identification they may help with direct services to the student or with consultation services to teachers and parents.
Services for Children with Moderate Learning Problems
Moderately disabled children often have significant delays in communication, perception, coordination, and self-help skills.
Sometimes Learning Assistance teachers can assist; other times Special Education Teachers are needed.
Services for moderately handicapped children include direct services, consultation services and, sometimes, community access and employment services.
Services for moderately impaired children are often provided by a multi-disciplinary team composed of many professionals and community agency personnel.
Services for Children with Severe Learning Problems
Services for children with severe impairments are organized through the use of highly specific I.E.P.’s.
For some students, services may be provided by itinerant teachers, and may only require minor adjustments to regular class instruction.
For severely cognitively and physically impaired students, a detailed program involving medical, educational, para-professional and care-giving support, is established. These programs often utilize many non-school resources.
Services for Hospitalized or Homebound Children
When children miss school because of serious illness, physical impairment, or emotional stress, a hospital home bound teacher is assigned to ensure that students make steady academic progress. These teachers may use:
-regular classroom programs
-correspondence courses
-adult basic education courses and
-individualized programs to achieve student objectives
Do You Need Help to Get Started?
While the provision of special education services is a complex task, the access to those services is simple! Classroom Teachers, Special Education Teachers, Learning Assistance Teachers, and Principals are the keys to service access and may be able to provide solutions to most problems, without the need for further referral.
And. . .
While these school based personnel may not know all the answers, they will do their best to ensure that your child(ren) receive appropriate attention.
If you require additional assistance or further information contact:
Pam Butters Director of Instruction,
(250) 770-7700 ext. 6103
pbutters@summer.com |
