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Special Education

Other programs

Related Services

A related service means any supportive service that is required to assist a child with disabilities to benefit from special education. If a child does not need special education there can be no related services provided under an IEP since a related service must be necessary in order for the child to benefit from special education.

Some related services, such as speech therapy or adapted PE, might qualify by themselves as special education. In such a case, the child must demonstrate a disability that meets one of the special education eligibility categories (speech impairment, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment) and require specially designed instruction.

Special Schools

The school district provides educational programs to students admitted to area hospitals and residential treatment centers. Students are primarily referred for placement in the community location by outside agencies, parents, or district administration. Regular and special education instruction is provided for grades K-12, depending on the specifics of the community population within the program. Instruction is presented in a variety of ways including individual, small group and computer-based. For those students enrolled in secondary credit courses effort is made to coordinate specific subject instruction.


Related Services

Adapted PE

Adapted Physical Education teachers collaborate with regular PE teachers to ensure that children with disabilities can participate in and access the PE curriculum. Adaptive materials and equipment and a modified curriculum may be used depending on the needs of the student.

Assistive Technology

The Assistive Technology (AT) Department supports school teams in completing Assistive Technology and augmentative communication evaluations. AT consultants serve as a resource to school teams, provide trainings for devices used in the school setting and assist with equipment acquisition and maintenance. They consult with teams on supporting curriculum with AT and on planning individual student programs. Training for student support is offered in the areas of: augmentative communication, computer access, environmental control, and written expression or alternative writing.

Audiology

Educational audiologists conduct hearing evaluations, provide management for hearing aids and other assistive listening devices, participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, assist in program placement and counsel families about the educational effects of hearing loss. Services are provided through classroom consultation with teachers.

Blind/Visually Impaired

BVI teachers serves students who have significant visual impairments, are totally blind or deaf-blind. Direct instruction may include vision skill training, orientation and mobility, adapted academics, Braille, abacus, word processing, pre-vocational/vocational training and personal management. Emphasis also is given to development of self-help skills, listening skills, daily living activities and leisure/recreational activities. Consultation and monitoring is provided for students who do not require direct instruction. Adaptive equipment and/or specially prepared materials (Brailed or enlarged print, note-taking equipment, communication devices) are provided to students who require them in order to access the curriculum.

Hard of Hearing

Teachers of the hearing impaired provides itinerant services for hard of hearing students at their neighborhood school. Teachers serve students through direct instruction and consultation with regular and special education staff on the ramifications of hearing loss and recommendations of specialized instructional techniques.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists provide direct consult/ collaborative services to special education students, ages 3-21, who need assistance with hand function, oral-motor function, sensory motor skills and accessibility in order to be successful in the school environment.  Therapists work collaboratively on school-based teams to ensure each student barrier-free access to and participation in learning.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapists provide direct consult/ collaborative services to special education students, ages 3 through 21, who need assistance with mobility, positioning, and/or accessibility in order to be successful in the school environment.  Therapists work collaboratively on school-based teams to ensure each student barrier-free access to and participation in learning.

School Psychologists

School psychologists work with school teams to support and evaluate students with significant academic, behavioral and/or social-emotional problems. School psychologists provide services to students, teachers and/or parents through classroom consultation and short-term counseling. Parents must give initial consent for any psychological evaluation which may be recommended by teachers or counselors. School psychologists provide professional resources for other district personnel. Psychologists work with school teams to develop academic and behavioral interventions, to assist with crisis intervention/ prevention, suicide awareness and grief counseling.

Speech-Language

Speech-Language Pathologists assess and treat the communication disorders of articulation, language, voice, and stuttering for students age 3 through 21. Services are provided through direct contact with students and through consultation with teachers and/or parents and include a combination of classroom-based instruction, consultation, and group and individual therapy. Speech pathologists and teaching assistants work collaboratively with the other members of the school team to ensure that students with communication disabilities have full participation in the learning environment and experience academic success. Speech-language staff partner with teachers to support language learning and literacy in the classroom.

Special Schools

Booth, Salvation Army

3600 E 20th St., Anchorage
907-279-0522

Booth Memorial provides the educational program for up to 20 adolescent girls ages 12-18 that have been admitted to residential or day treatment program. All referrals come from the state.

Jesse Lee, Alaska Children's Services

4600 Abbott Rd., Anchorage
907-346-2101

Jesse Lee provides the educational program for as many as 56 children, ages 6 to 18, who have been admitted to this residential therapeutic community for boys and girls. Youth are referred to Jesse Lee Home by state and private referrals.

Maplewood, Alaska Children's Services

1920 E 24th St., Anchorage
907-279-5061

Maplewood provides the educational program for as many as 20 boys and girls in grades 9-12. The youth are referred to Maplewood Group Home by state and private referrals.

McKinley Heights, Adolescent Residential Center for Help (ARCH)

8012 Stewart Mountain Dr., Anchorage
907-694-3336

McKinley Heights provides the educational program for adolescent boys and girls ages 12-18, who have been admitted to residential or day treatment at the Adolescent Residential Center for Help. The intensive outpatient program serves as a primary treatment for up to 16 residents referred statewide on both a private and probation basis. The average enrollment is 6 to 7 months.

Turning Point Heights, North Star Behavioral Health

1500 DeBarr Cr., Anchorage
907-865-7100

Turning Point Heights provides the educational program for up to 50 adolescent girls ages 12-18 and 10 elementary-aged children who have been admitted to residential treatment program. The students stay from 12-24 months. All referrals come from the state.

DeBarr Heights, North Star Behavioral Health

2530 DeBarr Rd., Anchorage
907-258-7575

Bragaw Heights, North Star Behavioral Health

1650 S Bragaw Rd., Anchorage
907-277-1522

Debarr Heights and Bragaw Heights are considered acute care facilities having a capacity to serve 74 children and adolescents, K-12, with an average stay of 28 days. Students may be referred by community agencies or parents.

Humphrey Heights, Providence Adolescent Residential Treatment Program

3400 E 20th St., Anchorage

Humphrey Heights provides long-term treatment for 12-18 year old girls.

Providence Heights, Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API)

2900 Providence Dr., Anchorage
907-269-7208

Providence Heights provides educational program for adolescent girls and boys ages 13-18. Minors may be referred by police officers, by court order, or parent or legal guardian. Providence Heights serves up to 12 students with average length of stay of less than 14 days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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