|
Have you checked out our CSPD events?
Click on the EVENTS button to see current training opportunities in Region 9.
|
|
 |
|
SCSC > Special Education
|
 |
|
|
|
|
SPECIAL EDUCATION
|
|
|
Contact: Linda Watson, RLIF, Ph. 507.389.2123, lwatson@mnscsc.org
|
|
DESCRIPTION
 Special Education services at SCSC include the Regional Project for Low Incidence. We also offer a Comprehensive System of Personnel Development and a lending library, making available books, articles, videotapes, adaptive equipment, and assistive technology devices.
Low Incidence refers to a disability that occurs rarely or in low numbers. There are eight disabilities categorized as low incidence:
The Region 9 Low Incidence (LI) Project is intended to address identified gaps and needs in special education programs and related services for students with any of the disabilities listed above.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires a licensed person in the area of the student's disability to be on that student's Individual Education Program (IEP) team. The Region 9 LI Project can fulfill this requirement by supplying a licensed consultant/ specialist for a district's team that is void in fulfilling this requirement except for MSMI at this time.
In categories of OHD and TBI, a licensed special education teacher who has been trained in those areas can serve as the licensed staff.
Because providing equitable services to learners with low incidence disabilities has been difficult for districts, the Minnesota Department of Education in 1980 initiated Regional Low Incidence Service Planning Grants for increasing the availability of indirect services and supplementing local efforts and programming for these learners. The South Central Service Cooperative (SCSC) provides this service to member districts of Region 9 throught the project grant. It is managed by Regional Low Incidence Facilitator (RLIF), Linda Watson.
State aid and levies from districts support the additional cost of the Region 9 LI Project beyond the project grant dollars. SCSC prorates approved expenditures for the program among participating school districts based on total enrollment. This billing is not based on how much a district uses each consultant/specialist. School districts receive the state aid on behalf of SCSC. Consutlants / Specialists are assigned to cover the needs of each district.
|
All due process procedures of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) need to be followed. Students need to come through the referral process and be assessed by appropriate licensed personnel. The assessment must show that the student meets the criteria for the specific disability and be in need of special education services in order for the student to receive special education services. Districts need to follow the requirements for a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for each student identified. If the district is accessing a consultant/specialist from the Region 9 LI Project, contact must be made with that consultant / specialist to become involved at the start of the referral/assessment determination process.Consultants/Specialists can be used for the assessment process and indirect services, meaning they cannot be a direct service provider for students under the regulations of the Regional Low Incidence Project. Any licensed special education teacher in the district can carry out the direct service needs of the student as determined by the student's IEP team.
R-CSPD
The acronym R-CSPD stands for Regional - Comprehensive System of Personnel Development. It is a program that provides workshops and inservice training, and other activities for persons in Region 9 who work with learners with handicaps, i.e., regular and special educators, paraprofessionals, administrators, and parents. R-CSPD is federal funding that allows for regional activities to be offered at a minimal expense or at no cost to participants. Click on the events button to the left to access the listing of current training opportunities.
A variety of resources are available from SCSC such as books, articles, videotapes, and assistive technology equipment. A catalogue identifying the materials is placed in the library of each school building. Each low incidence handicap area has special resources listed as well as some general special education resources including early childhood materials that would be of interest to parents.
These resources are available on loan to general and special educators and parents of Region 9. Requests can be made through Loree Brown at 507.389.1425 or lbrown@mnscsc.org. There may be time limits on their use.
Assistive technology equipment is meant to be used on a trial or short term basis for students. If certain assistive technology equipment seems appropriate for a student's use for an indefinite time, districts would need to consider purchasing that equipment for their student. The lending of equipment gives the team a diagnostic period to determine it if is correct and appropriate for a student.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
programs/services | about scsc | membership
staff directory | facilities | sitemap | home
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page modified: 4/16/08
|
|
|
|
|
