Student Services

that are Provided Under Chapter 15

for Protected Handicapped Students

Chapter 15 – In compliance with state and federal law, the Ridgway Area School District will provide to each protected handicapped student without discrimination or cost to the student or family, those related aids, services or accommodations which are needed to provide equal opportunity to participate in and obtain the benefits of the school program and extracurricular activities to the maximum extent appropriate to the student’s abilities. In order to qualify as a protected handicapped student the child must be of school age with a physical or mental disability, which substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to an aspect of the school program.

These related aids, services or accommodations and protections for “protected handicapped students” are distinct from those applicable to all eligible or exceptional students enrolled (or seeking enrollment) in special education programs. Examples of such services include, but are not limited to:

¨ Psychological Services – School psychologists receive special training in child development, learning processes, emotional and behavioral adjustment, and psychological and instructional testing. The district’s school psychologist can provide a variety of services to students, parents, teachers, and administrators. These services include psycho-educational testing to determine a student’s academic strengths and needs, identification of students who might be in need of special education services, assistance in the development of appropriate educational plans designed to meet students’ needs, individual or group counseling based on academic, social or emotional concerns, and consultation with parents and teachers about students’ learning and adjustment. The school psychologist works cooperatively with students, parents, community members and school staff to assist with providing all students with a free and appropriate education. School-based psychological services are provided free of charge through the Ridgway Area School District. For more information about your district’s psychological services, please contact Mrs. Christine Kuhar, School Psychologist, at 814/776-4258.

¨ Behavioral Support Services – Behavioral Support Services are a component of Psychological Services and can be provided to students receiving their education in the general education population and/or students receiving special education services. Students’ whose behavior is adversely impacting their academic performance within the curriculum or students’ whose behavior is adversely impacting one or more areas of life functioning (peer relationships, etc.) may be candidates for Behavioral Support Services. Behavioral Support Services include, but are not limited to, the evaluation of a student’s behavior within the education setting, analysis of data collected from the evaluation, the development of behavioral interventions, the implementation of behavioral interventions, and the monitoring of those interventions as they relate to the student’s behavioral goals and/or objectives identified via the behavioral evaluation. Students may be referred for behavioral support services by parents or guardians, administrators, guidance counselors, and/or teachers. Behavioral support service referrals and/or inquiries about behavioral support services may be made by contacting the Office of Student Services (814/776-4255).

¨ Transportation – includes travel to and from school and between schools; and travel in and around school buildings.

¨ Counseling services – services provided by qualified social workers, psychologists, guidance counselors, or other qualified personnel.

¨ Medical services – services provided by a licensed physician to determine a child’s medically related disability that results in the child’s need for special education and related services

¨ School health services – services provided by a qualified school nurse or other qualified person

¨ Other Instructional Aids, Services, and Accommodations –

- use of elevator,

- copies of notes,

- checking of students notes for content and form,

- accompany oral directions with written directions,

- use of computer for all written assignments,

- review prior material at start of each lesson

- modify reading material while maintaining lesson objectives

- provide time to read selections more than once

- shorten length of assignments that require reading, writing or
both

- use of organizers

- use of homework notebook

- individualized assistance in the classroom for organizational
skills

- preferential seating

- tape player to record notes

- enlarged copies of texts and worksheets

- adapted seating

- spell checker

- assistive technology

- allow additional time between classes

- assistance for daily personal needs

- assistance with ambulation in the hallways

- assistance transferring from wheelchair

- wheelchair accessible bus to school

- assistance getting on and off the bus

- etc.