Special Education
The ESD 105 Special Education Department supports the region's school districts with a variety of services, including technical assistance on regulations, program development, and instructional best practice for learners 3-21 years old. We assist school districts in providing high quality staff development to all school personnel who serve students with disabilities or are considered high-risk for learning problems. We are a liaison between school districts and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. We also provide collaboration with other community agencies providing supportive services to children with special needs.
ESDs across the state provide a resource for networking and a level of consistency in programming. Each ESD works in special education with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to:
1. Conduct regularly scheduled meetings on special education with local school districts.
2. Participate in regularly scheduled meetings with OSPI Special Education staff.
3. Assist OSPI's Special Education Department with implementing the goals and objectives of the special education State Improvement Plan and State Improvement Grant.
4. Provide professional development through special education modules developed by the OSPI Special Education staff and school district personnel, and continue to provide training for special education staff (such as the 14 core competencies for paraeducators and disseminating information about in-service training opportunities for teachers, related service personnel, and paraeducators).
5. Provide assistance to local districts with pre-planning for the Consolidated Program Review with appropriate assistance to the local districts that have completed their reviews.
ESD 105 Special Education Cooperatives
Many of the districts in our region collaborate to form cooperatives that are managed by ESD 105. The Cooperative staff is itinerant and joins with the district team to meet the unique needs of children with special needs. The Cooperative staff provides a number of services, including: assessment, IEP planning and implementation, direct service, consultation, parent education, in-service, and information on specific conditions and disabilities. Districts can initiate new services as needs change. Contact Faye Fuchs at (509) 575-2885 for information or questions on the following:
• Occupational Therapy: The staff consists of four licensed occupational therapists and two licensed occupational therapy assistants. Staff members address the physical and motor needs of children in order to maximize their educational experience.
• Hearing Services: A teacher of the hard of hearing and deaf provides direct services to students, and consultation to district teachers and signing interpreters. Districts purchase services based on the needs of the individual student.
• Vision Services: A teacher of the visually impaired provides students with instruction in braille to access the general education curriculum, orientates students to their environment through mobility training, and supports the use of specially designed computer software in addition to the services listed above.
• Autism Services: A teacher trained in the needs of students with autism is available to provide staff development and consulting to schools in our region that serve students who are autistic.
Resources
• CCTS: Center for Change in Transition Services
Contact Information:
|
Faye Fuchs |
Sylvia Cervantes |
|
Rose Bick |
Amiee Bloom |
|
Alicia Buchholtz |
Stacy Dekker |
|
Monica Gilbertson |
Annee Hartzell |
|
Karen Hoglund |
Sharon Loudon |
|
Laura Miller |
Val Olson |
|
Lorie Phillips-Moos |
Christina Roberts |
|
Diann Rockstrom |
Megan Rutschilling |
|
Ron Sherman |
Sati Wallabbs |
