| Special Education | |
|
|
Safe Schools & Drug Free Programs |
....Special education services are available to all eligible children in the Mt. Healthy City School District, beginning at age three and extending through age 21. The Preschool Disabled Program is housed at Rex Ralph Center and serves about 30 children ages three to five. A full range of special education services is available throughout the district to meet the unique needs of each student with a classified disability.
.....One of the salient aspects in determining the placement of a student is the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), through which all students with disabilities are included in regular education programming as much as possible, based on the individual needs of the student as determined at the IEP meeting. Based on this concept, every effort is made to provide educational services to students with disabilities in their home schools with their typically developing peers. If a more restrictive setting is needed, it could be necessary to transfer a student to another building or to a program outside of the district.To receive special education services, a student must be evaluated and qualify for any of the following categories defined by the federal government:
Multiple Disabilities (MD)
Emotional Disturbance (ED)
Deaf-Blind (DB)
Cognitive Disabilities (CD)
Deafness (HI)
Specific Learning Disabled (SLD)
Visual Impairment (VI)
Preschool With A Disability (PD)
Autism (AU)
Speech or Language Impairment (SI)
Orthopedic Impairment (OH)
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Other Health Impaired (OHI).....The elementary buildings have overlapping yet different special education service components based on the needs of the students and the resources of the building. All elementary buildings provide services to students with disabilities in the regular classroom but not all services are available in every school. Mt. Healthy Junior High and Mt. Healthy High School has services for students with disabilities.
.....The Transition Process, which emphasizes development of post-high school plans beginning at the middle school level, assists students and parents to be aware of diverse post-high school options available to them. To be better prepared for post-high school life, students in the special education program at the high school may be involved in the work/study program, vocational programs through the Great Oaks Career Development Centers or any of a number of other vocational programs.
.....The Mt. Healthy Schools are fortunate to have a parent mentor available to provide information and support to all parents, and especially those with children with disabilities. Rose Kahsar is the parent mentor. Her office is at the Rex Ralph Center, and she can be reached at 522-1612.
.....In addition, a parent support group – Individuals of Mt. Healthy Participating to Achieve a Child’s Tomorrow (IMPACT) – offers parents information about the entire spectrum of special education services. Further information about this group can be obtained through Rose Kahsar at 522-1612.
.....Call your child’s teacher or building principal concerning the appropriateness of special education services. If your child is not already enrolled in school, contact the Special Education office at 728-4974.
