Special Services - Continuum of Services
The underlying philosophy of HCDE's Exceptional Education Department is that students with disabilities receive individualized programming in the least restrictive environment to the maximum extent appropriate. Many students with disabilities are served through a collaborative team model with teams of professionals incorporating services and supports in the general education setting. Professional partnerships offer students additional opportunities to access the general education curriculum through classroom accommodations and participations in specialized interventions. Accommodations used may include but are not limited to: assignments, materials, pacing, presentation of content, alternative assessment, environmental changes, and positive behavior supports.
Gifted Services
Students in Hamilton County must meet Tennessee Intellectually Gifted eligibility criteria and demonstrate a need for services beyond those which are available in the regular curriculum in order to be eligible as Intellectually Gifted. When a student has been found to be eligible as an Intellectually Gifted student, an Individual Education Plan is written by a team which includes the parent(s), student, an exceptional education teacher, a general education teacher and a LEA representative. Services may include enriched academic experiences, acceleration, and appropriate modifications and accommodations in the regular classroom. Useful websites include http://www.tag-tenn.org/ and http://www.nagc.org/.
Vision Services
The Office of Visual Disabilities offers comprehensive services in the least restrictive environment for students who are eligible as visually impaired under State guidelines.
Speech and Language Services
Hamilton County Department of Education’s Speech-Language Services include assessment and therapy for communication disabilities in the areas of articulation, language, voice, and fluency for students ages 3 through 21. Depending on communication needs as determined by an IEP, a combination of services may be provided including direct services with students by the Speech-Language Pathologist/Teacher, consultation with general curriculum teachers and/or parents, and classroom-based instruction through inclusion services. Speech-Language Pathologists/Teachers work collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure that students with communication disabilities have full participation in the general curriculum and experience academic success.
Incarcerated Youth Services
Any inmate eligible for exceptional education services who is detained or incarcerated in a Hamilton County facility and is not a high school graduate nor has reached the 22nd birthday can access IEP services. Services in the facility are provided by a licensed and certified Hamilton County Special Education Teacher. Collaboration between the Hamilton County Department of Education and the county operated detention centers ensure that special education and related services to detainees with disabilities are in accordance with the IEP.
Deaf Education Services
Hamilton County Department of Education offers a full continuum of services for comprehensive academic instruction for deaf and hearing-impaired students ages 3 through 21. These students participate within the general curriculum gaining access by using assistive listening devices and/or sign language interpreters depending on their communication needs as determined by their IEP. Students needing additional academic support may receive services from an itinerant teacher of the deaf/hard of hearing, or participate a in a resource class for core academic subjects taught by a teacher trained in the language development and learning processes of deaf/hearing-impaired students.
Early Childhood Interventions
The child find responsibility for Hamilton County Department of Education begins at least 90 days prior to a child turning three years of age. If a child is receiving services from Tennessee Early Intervention Services, transition services are scheduled and implemented in order to determine eligibility for services under IDEA. The referral and identification process for children under 5 years of age is initiated with the Preschool Assessment and Learning Service Center. A multidisciplinary team of professionals, with parent input, completes the assessment process. If a child is eligible, an IEP will be developed to meet the needs of the identified student. Services range from the provision of speech and language services in the child’s home zoned school to comprehensive special educational services in a school-based or center-based preschool setting.
Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology is the provision of services and/or adaptive devices to help students compensate for a disability and/or develop skills essential for independence. The Access Center provides assessments to determine assistive technology needs of students. The exceptional education department of HCDE promotes the use of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in order to provide access to the general curriculum. UDL enables all individuals to gain knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm for learning by providing rich supports for learning and reducing barriers to the curriculum while maintaining high achievement standards for all. For more information about the assistive technology available for eligible students, please visit the Access Center web site.
Special Classes
Decisions relating to the provision of alternate curriculum and instructional settings, three years of age through twenty-one years of age, occur by the IEP process. Identified students with significant disabilities may be considered for instruction guided by the alternate performance standards aligned with the general curriculum standards. This instructional setting and curriculum is comprehensive and developmental in nature. The highly structured setting is designed to teach, foster and address not only levels of academic achievement but curriculum that addresses the attainment of functional, social, communication, prevocational and independent skills. Students may access school-based activities with typically developing peers as outlined in the IEP. Students may be served in a school-based or center-based alternative instructional setting.
Dawn Program
The Dawn School is a program through the Exceptional Education office that provide educational opportunities for students who function best in a controlled environment. The school, located in the former White Oak Elementary, serves about 60 students who have severe disabilities. These disabilities include being diagnosed as emotionally disturbed. Students receive instruction based on the Hamilton County department of Education curriculum, Tennessee State Standards, goals, and objective outlined in students' Individual Education Plans (IEP).