Special Education

Inclusive Schools Week is an annual event sponsored by the Inclusive Schools Network (ISN), which is held each year during the first full week in December. Since its inception in 2001, Inclusive Schools Week has celebrated the progress that schools have made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students who are marginalized due to disability, gender, socioeconomic status, cultural heritage, language preference, and other factors. The week also provides an important opportunity for educators, students, and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure that their schools continue to improve their ability to educate all children successfully.

This year, the Inclusive Schools Week’s theme is “Draw Me In” Join us in celebrating Inclusive Schools Week December 4-8, 2023!

Meetings

The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) will meet four times this year. These meetings are open to any and all parents, teachers, and community members who wish to support our special needs program!

SEAC Meeting Dates for 2023-2024:

September 21, 5:00 to 6:30- **CANCELLED** New date TBD, stay tuned!

Pizza Picnic! Meet the Superintendent and learn about financial benefits and savings for special needs students at the Rappahannock County Elementary School Courtyard, Washington VA.

November 16, 4:00 to 5:00-Presentation on Special Programs offered by the Headwaters Local Education Foundation- Meeting via Zoom

January 25- 6:00: Presentation of Child Adult Relationship Enhancements-Meeting via Zoom

March 28- 6:00: Approval of Annual Plan- Meeting via Zoom

Mission

The Rappahannock County Public Schools, Division of Special Services, is committed to supporting school personnel as they work together with families to educate students with varying skills and abilities, address their unique challenges and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.

Purpose

The Department of Special Education for Rappahannock County Public Schools serves students with disabilities ages 2-21 who are found eligible for special education and related services by a multidisciplinary team.

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) provides information on educational services and resources to support students who are deaf and hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired or deaf-blind at its website. The following links to information and resources are excerpted from the VDOE’s Special Education-Specific Disabilities-Sensory Disabilities webpage:

Required Posting Regarding Vision/Hearing Impairment (VA Code 22.1-217.01)

Copy and paste the link below or call 540-227-0259 for a hard copy

Guidance Documents

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Blindness and Visual Impairment

State Agencies

Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind (VSDB) - The VSDB is located in Staunton, Virginia and provides a Kindergarten (K) -12 educational day program, outreach services, and residential services exclusively for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired, or deaf-blind. The VSDB Outreach Services assist early intervention providers, local school divisions, and families in meeting the needs of children with sensory disabilities across the Commonwealth. The VSDB’s admissions policy is available at its website. Contact: Pat Trice, Superintendent at (540) 332-9000
Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) - The DBVI’s education services program provides services to early intervention providers, school personnel, and families to help children to be successful in school and the community, and to prepare for the future. The Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired offers training in the skills of blindness. The Library and Resource Center provides services to local school divisions to support the education of children who are blind or visually impaired and persons who are print disabled. Contact: Caren Phipps, Director of Services for Children and Youth at (804) 625-3972
Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH) - The VDDHH provides standards for educational interpreting services and other services to reduce the communication barriers between persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families and the professionals who serve them. Contact: Eric Raff, Director at (800) 552-7917 V/TTY

Technical Assistance Centers and Training Programs

Accessible Instructional Materials Center-Virginia (AIM-VA) -The AIM-VA’s extensive library has developed an alternative system for providing accessible educational media under standards set by federal law to students who meet the federal requirements for print disabilities and who are eligible for accessing educational media through an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The AIM-VA, in conjunction with partnering agencies, provides required accessible educational materials to students and training for school division staff at no cost to Local Educational Agencies. Contact: AIM-VA Help Desk at (866) 926-1879
Center for Family Involvement at the Partnership for People with Disabilities-Virginia Commonwealth University (CFI) - The CFI provides information and training to support children with disabilities, their families, and professionals. Contact: CFI Office at (877) 567-1122 or TTY relay; (800) 828-1120
Radford University Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program -Radford University offers Virginia’s only academic program leading to Virginia teacher licensure with an endorsement in Special Education-Deaf and Hard of Hearing PreK-12. Courses are taught through combined on-campus, distance education, and varied educational field experiences. The comprehensive program teaches all communication/instructional approaches used with deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Tuition assistance is available for qualified Virginia teachers. Contact: Karen Stinson, Graduate Advisor at (540) 831-5549
Technical Assistance Center for Children Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TAC-DHH) -The TAC-DHH provides information, training, and technical assistance pertaining to children who are deaf and hard of hearing. Assistance is available to Virginia public school divisions, including early childhood special education and early intervention programs, through the Virginia Network of Consultants for Professionals Working with Children Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VNOC). Contact: Tracey Yurechko, Project Director at (804) 828-1342
Virginia Consortium for Teacher Preparation in Visual Impairment (VI Consortium) - The VI Consortium is the only academic program in Virginia for teacher preparation leading to Virginia teacher licensure with an endorsement in Special Education-Visual Impairment PreK-12. Classes are offered through combined on-campus, video, and web conferencing through four universities: George Mason; Norfolk State; Old Dominion; and Radford. Tuition assistance is available for qualified Virginia teachers. Contact: Kimberly Avila, Coordinator at (703) 993-5625
Virginia Hearing Aid Loan Bank (HALB) - The HALB provides hearing aids and FM systems for children in Virginia under age 18 whose hearing loss is confirmed by an audiologist. Devices are loaned for free for up to six months while families/school divisions are waiting for a permanent device to arrive. Contact: Lisa Powley at (866) 596-9367
Virginia Project for Children and Young Adults with Deaf-Blindness (VDBP) - The VDBP provides technical assistance, training, distance education, and networking information to service providers and families of children with deaf-blindness/dual sensory disabilities. Contact: Julie Durando, Project Director at (804) 828-8252
Professional Development for Educational Interpreters - The VDOE provides grant funding to assist Virginia educational interpreters and cued language transliterators with acquiring and maintaining the skills and qualifications that are required to work with children who are deaf and hard of hearing in Virginia public schools. Free regional workshops and 1:1 mentoring support are available.

American Sign Language-English Interpretation programs/courses are offered at the following Virginia colleges and universities:

· Telephone: (434) 582-2064

· Northern Virginia Community College Telephone: (703) 323-3192

· Telephone: (540) 831-5549

· Reynolds Community College Telephone: (804) 523-5604

· Tidewater Community College Telephone: (757) 214-6157

For additional information, please contact Wanda Council, Education Specialist, Virginia Department of Education at (804) 371-4059.

Revised 10/2020

On The Road To Remarkable

Recognition of National Inclusive Schools Week December 4-8, 2023

Documents

Special Education Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes.

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Specific Disabilities/ Procedural Safeguards

Information on specific disability categories and procedural safeguards can be found in the links below.