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Wednesday, December 2, is National Special Education Day, which marks the 46th Anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), a landmark civil rights law that ensures states and school districts provide a free appropriate public education to all children with disabilities.
Special education teachers and specialists go above and beyond to ensure students are learning and growing every day. They are a great support to students, families, and staff. In addition to teachers and specialists, paraprofessionals, assessment personnel, and special education counselors all form part of the team.
“Special education has a special place in my heart. One of my children benefitted from the special education services he received. Special education teachers and staff dedicate their lives to helping all students thrive at their own pace. I hope everyone takes a moment to thank special education educators for all the hard work they do,” Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney said. “We appreciate the care and attention they provide our students.”
The district’s program helps students grow academically, as well as socially, and emotionally. Students learn how to regulate their emotions and develop coping skills. They learn how to make friendships and connections. The goal is to give students general classroom exposure and place them in an inclusive environment. The program strives to provide students with disabilities with choices and opportunities.
For self-sufficient students, the teachers prepare them for the real world by preparing them to be college-ready or building job skills they can use once they graduate from Aldine.
“Special education provides individualized support and services so students can become the best version of themselves,” said Tracy Bailey, executive director of special education. “Special education refers to a range of services that can be provided in different ways and settings. There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach to special education. It’s tailored to meet the needs of students with disabilities. The services and supports for one student may be very different from those of another student. It’s all about the individual child and giving them the resources they need to make progress in school.”
For more information, visit AISD’s Special Education Department website. Families can also email questions to Special Education by using Let’s Talk, the district’s two-way communication platform. Families can choose to view Let’s Talk in English or Spanish by selecting their preferred language at the top of the site.
Share Your Story
There’s a famous quote throughout the education world by George Evans, who said, “Every child can learn. Just not on the same day or in the same way.” Educators and parents have stories about the impact special education, and related services have on a child. On December 2, share your special education stories on social media and use the #AldineSpecialEducation.
Aldine ISD Special Education Programs
Adapted Physical Education is an individualized program of developmental activities, exercises, games, sports, and rhythms designed to meet the unique physical education needs of individuals experiencing difficulties in the psychomotor domain.
AISD’s Autism programs support all students struggling with the difficulties that individuals on the Autism spectrum face. We provide structured, systematic, research-based support based on the principles of applied behavior analysis.
AISD’s Program for the Deaf utilizes Total Communication and ASL. We provide direct specialized instruction, ECSE D/HH programs, and inclusive mainstream practices. Audiological management, speech therapy, interpreting, and counseling are also provided by certified staff.
ECSE is any special education service for children ages 3-5 that begin as early as the child’s third birthday. ECSE services are provided through a continuum of service options, including “drop-in” speech therapy, in-class support, or specialized instruction as decided by the child’s ARD committee.
Homebound services are provided to students confined to home for four or more weeks due to a medical condition as documented by a licensed physician.
Special Education PT and OT services are related or support services to each student’s instructional program. Services support the IEP by integrating direct and indirect student interventions and collaboration/consultation with the educational team to provide students with access and participation in their school day.
The Transition Service Center at Lane provides services and support to our students who have completed credits for graduation but continue to require additional support to transition from school to adult life. Transition services are activities based on interests, a student’s strengths, and needs. The services prepare students receiving special education services for their transition from school to post-school life. All high school students receiving special education services are required to have a course of study. A course of study is a multi-year description of all the student’s coursework to achieve their postsecondary goals. Their course of study will be designed to enable each student to meet their postsecondary goals reasonably.
School-based speech therapy is an instructional or related service that supports the educational program for students who have a disorder in communication in one or more of the following areas: articulation, language, voice, or fluency (stuttering). School-based Assistive Technology (AT) service is any service that directly assists a student with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device. Assistive Technology support becomes a related service when a student requires a specific tool to access curriculum, compensate for their disability, and/or provide independence in various settings.
The Special Education Department works collaboratively with campuses and other related service specialists to ensure each student has access to the curriculum. Teachers of the Visually Impaired along with Orientation and Mobility Specialists work together to meet the instructional and daily living skills of students with a visual impairment. They provide instruction in braille, social-emotional support, daily living, independence skills, and career and technology planning.
For more information, visit AISD’s Special Education Department website. Families can also email questions to Special Education by using Let’s Talk, the district’s two-way communication platform. Families can choose to view Let’s Talk in English or Spanish by selecting their preferred language at the top of the site.
