Related Services and Support

The following are some of the available services and supports offered (as needed) in Mid-Del Schools. A related service is defined as a supportive service that may be required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education.

Adapted Physical Education

Adapted Physical Education (APE) provides an instructional service to students with disabilities by developing, implementing and monitoring a carefully designed physical education instructional program. This program is based on a comprehensive assessment to give eligible students the skills necessary for a lifetime of rich leisure, recreation and sport experience to ensure and enhance physical fitness and wellness.

Audiology

Audiology services involves the identification of children with hearing loss. Audiology includes:

• determining the range, nature and degree of hearing loss, including referral for medical or other professional attention for the habilitation of hearing
• hearing evaluation, speech conservation, auditory training, language habilitation
• counseling and guidance to school personnel, parents and the child regarding the hearing loss
• determining children's needs for group and individual amplification, and the evaluation of the effectiveness of the amplification

Co-Teaching

Co-Teaching is a service and support option on a continuum designed to meet the diverse needs of students with disabilities. The focus of Co-Teaching is to provide collaborative instructional service delivery approach where both General Education teacher and Special Education teacher provides instruction in the General Education curriculum and setting.

Health Services

School Health Services are indicated as a related service when a student can not attend school without supportive health care. Typically, school health services are provided by a qualified school nurse or other qualified trained person who is supervised by a qualified nurse. Health services may include:

• administering and/or dispensing medications
• classroom modifications for the health needs of the student
• special feedings
• clean intermittent catheterization
• suctioning
• management of a tracheostomy
• conducting and/or promoting education and skills training for all (including the student, if possible) school personnel involving the medical needs.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy services are available in all Mid-Del Public Schools as a related service under the Special Education category.

Services provided include:

• Comprehensive screenings and/or evaluations of a students’ motor function as it relates to achievement of educational goals, and to evaluate the students’ access and participation in the educational environment.
• Plan and implement activities that will support the team identified functional goals and objectives of the students educational program. These activities might include handwriting, visual motor, visual perception, activities of daily living, fine motor skills, and strength and endurance.
• Recommend writing devices, adaptive equipment, and other assistive technology devices.
• Promote cooperative relationships with instructional staff, related service staff, administrators, and parents to improve the quality of student service.

Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy services are available in all Mid-Del Public Schools as a related service under the Special Education category.

Services provided include:

• Comprehensive screenings and/or evaluations of a student’s motor function as it is related to achievement of educational goals, and to evaluate the students’ access and participation in the educational environment.
• Plan and implement activities that will support the team identified functional goals and objectives of the students educational program. These activities might include balance and coordination, posture, mobility within the school environment, safety, strength and endurance, and participation.
• Recommend seating and standing options, assistive technology devices, and assist in identifying architectural barriers that may limit a students’ participation in educational activities.
• Promote cooperative relationships with instructional staff, related service staff, administrators and parents to improve the quality of student services.

Psychological Services

Currently 14 School Psychologists service the Mid-Del City Public Schools District. Services provided include:

• Comprehensive School Psychological services necessary for the mental health and educational needs of the students in the Mid-Del Public Schools.
• Promoting practices to ensure safe and nurturing environments that foster a positive learning experience.
• Assessments for special education services and behavioral and academic interventions for the classroom.
• Forming positive partnerships with communities and families.
• Advocating for the rights of children and families while respecting the unique needs of each student and family.

Speech

Speech-Language Therapy is a service and support option on a continuum designed to meet the diverse needs of students with speech-language impairments. The focus is instruction and training in the communication skills essential for educational and vocational progress. The components of the services include a number of hierarchical stages which establish and ultimately transfer newly acquired speaking patterns and / or communication skills to all aspects of the student’s educational setting.

Speech-Language Pathology Services are available in all Mid-Del City Public Schools. Services provided include:

• Completion of comprehensive speech-language evaluations for students referred by school personnel, parents, and coordinating agencies.
• Management of voice, fluency, articulation, and language disorders,
• Recommendation and provision of interventions and modifications in the regular classroom to enhance the individual students' performance,
• Provision of guidance and counseling for parents and students regarding speech-language development and disorders.
• Promotion of cooperative relationships with instructional staff, related service staff, administrators and parents to improve the quality of student service.

Special Transportation

Special Transportation may include travel to and from school and between schools; travel in and around school buildings; and specialized equipment (such as special or adapted buses, lifts, and ramps), if required to provide transportation for a student with a disability whose IEP committee has determined that this related service is necessary based upon their disability.

Transition Services

The term “transition services” means a coordinated set of activities for a child with a disability that:

1. Is designed to be within a results-oriented process, that is focused on improving the academic and functional achievement of the child with a disability to facilitate the child’s movement from school to post-school activities, including postsecondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment); continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation;

2. Is based on the individual child’s needs, taking into account the child’s strengths, preferences, and interests; and

3. Includes instruction, related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives, and, if appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational evaluation.

The Post-Secondary Facilitators assist students, parents, and teachers in the development and support of students' post-secondary goals and coordinated sets of activities.