Special Education Services
Department Overview
Averill Park Central School District is responsible for providing special education services to all students who qualify for such support. These services are coordinated by the district’s Special Education and Support Services Department, which encompasses the district’s Committees for Special Education at the preschool, elementary and secondary levels. They also oversee the district’s counseling and mental health (social workers, school psychologists, school counselors) services for all students who attend schools within our school district.
More information about:
- Areas of Disabilities
- Continuum of Services
- Glossary of terms/definitions
- Getting Started in the Special Education Process
PARENT INFORMATION CENTER
Special Education District Plan for 2022-2023
Understanding the IEP for School-Age Students Resource Links
Click here to find a presentation regarding Understanding the IEP Process for Parents of School-Age Students with a Disability.
Training Offered Specifically for Families:
CPSE to CSE Transition for Families (click on Date and Time below to register)
Registrants may choose any one of the options below:
This Zoom workshop will help participants understand the transition process from preschool special education to school age services, to be an active member of the transition team, to understand the difference between services in CPSE and CSE, and to understand the purpose of an IEP. Parents will come away from this workshop with a better understanding of what to expect as their children move on to kindergarten.
EI to CPSE Transition for Families (click on Date and Time below to register)
This Zoom presentation will guide parents through the process of transitioning their child from Early Intervention to the Committee on Preschool Special Education. Parents will understand the differences between Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education services and their important role in the transition process.
EC FACE Center - Calendar of Family Training Events:
http://events.constantcontact.com/calendar/monthview?llr=8t5gtbebb&eso=001nXC-HlszNLNBhM0jM5mRmg==
CPSE TO CSE TRANSITION FOR PRESCHOOLERS WITH DISABILITIES
VIRTRU
Virtru's Gmail encryption tool allows to APCSD to protect and encrypt emails. It's end-to-end encryption that means emails will stay encrypted from the time they are sent until it is received by the intended recipient. Neither Google, the recipient's server, nor Virtru have access to your content.
Recipients do not need to install Virtru or create a new account to read your content. This is what the tool looks like in Gmail:https://youtu.be/VO6YXTzA4YE?t=146"
Once you view your Virtru-protected message, you’ll have the option to reply and add your own attachments.
AGENCY 101
NTACT: https://transitionta.org/
ACCES-VR: http://www.acces.nysed.gov/vr
NYSCB: https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/cb/
OPWDD: https://opwdd.ny.gov/
OMH: https://omh.ny.gov/
ILC: http://www.acces.nysed.gov/vr/independent-living-centers
Career One Stop/American Job Centers: https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/AmericanJobCenters/find-american-job-centers.aspx
K&W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Differences, 15th Edition:
https://www.amazon.com/Programs-Disabilities-Attention-Hyperactivity-Admissions/dp/0307945073
TRAID - https://www.justicecenter.ny.gov/traid-program
Think College - https://thinkcollege.net/
EXTERNAL RESOURCES
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Institute Parent’s Center
The AAC Parents Google Group is a virtual community of parents of children who rely on AAC. Other participants may include family members, people who use AAC, and personal care attendants (PCAs). This is a community free from commercial and professional organization endorsements, opinions, policies, and procedures that place restrictions and limitations on access to assistive technology.
The links below are provided as a resource for additional information about autism.
- http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/autism
- http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/autism/apqi.htm
- http://www.albany.edu/autism/
- http://www.nichd.nih.gov/research/supported/Pages/cpea_staart.aspx
- https://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/Pages/pubs.aspx
Special Education Links
APCSD Agency 101
Graduation Pathways for Students with Disabilities
New York Office of Mental Health
New York State Office of Special Education
Office for People with Developmental Disabilities
ACCES-VR
Videos for Parents of Children with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
The New York State Education Department (NYSED), Office of Special Education is sharing the following parent video series: Supporting the Learning of Children with Significant Cognitive Disabilities at Home, recently published by two U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education funded centers, the TIES Center and the National Center on Educational Outcomes. The video series supports families in understanding the important role that they have in teaching their children. The series offers ideas for supporting the learning of children with significant cognitive disabilities at home. This information is being shared for informational purposes only and does not constitute NYSED endorsement. Please be aware that any links and/or websites provided may change. The information provided is true and complete to the best of our knowledge.
These four videos for parents of children with significant cognitive disabilities provide ideas for supporting the learning of reading and math at home:
- Helping Your Child with the Foundations of Math While at Home
- Helping Your Child with Math While at Home
- Helping Your Child with the Foundations of Reading at Home
- Helping Your Child with Reading at Home
School Delays & Closing
For any school delay, meetings scheduled before the start of school will be rescheduled. When school opens, meetings will be held as scheduled.
School Closed: all meetings are canceled and will be rescheduled
You will be notified of the new dates and times for all rescheduled meetings.
As part of its regular K-12 curriculum, the district supports an extensive program for students who have learning difficulties. There is also a comprehensive special education program for disabled students between the ages of 5 and 21.
To the greatest extent possible, Averill Park Central School District believes in educating children with disabilities within a normal school environment. Special programs are available to allow students to receive instruction tailored to their specific and unique needs.
The Special Education Department seeks to provide systematic aid to students with various types of problems - educational, vocational, health, social and personal. The Special Education Department is designed to supplement and complement the instructional and administrative aspects of the educational process, and are an integral part of this process. The Special Education staff consists of counselors, psychologists, nurses, resource teachers, speech therapists, and English as a second language, itinerant, home instruction, and bilingual teachers.
Through developmental, remedial, and preventive measures, pupil personnel staff members work with pupils, parents, and teachers to provide all students the most responsive educational program possible. Services are provided directly to pupils or indirectly through the parents, teachers, principals, or other community agencies.