Special Education
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My child is eligible for special education services under the category of Developmental Delay. What does this mean?
According to the Operating Standards for Ohio Educational Agencies Serving Children with Disabilities (2008), a student with a developmental delay is a child 3 to 5 years old that an evaluation team of qualified professionals determines is experiencing a delay in one or more of the following areas: physical development; cognitive development; communication development; social or emotional development; or adaptive development. The term may be used in place of the following disability categories: intellectual disability; emotional disturbance; speech or language impairment.
Because the eligibility team at your child’s school agreed that he/she meets the criteria of the Ohio Operating Standards, your child will have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that will address his/her unique needs and allow him/her to access the grade-level curriculum to the greatest extent possible. When your child is preparing to transition to Kindergarten, he/she will be re-evaluated to determine if he/she meets eligibility criteria for a disability other than Developmental Delay.
What specialized instruction will my child receive?
Goals for children with developmental delay vary and depend on the unique needs of the child, but typically address these areas:
o Social interaction – social awareness and relationship skills
o Behavior – self-awareness, self-management, sensory needs
o Communication – verbal, nonverbal, technology-aided
o Pre-academic skills
o Daily living – following routines, self-care
Can a student with Developmental Delay attend any CMSD school?
Many K-8 schools in CMSD offer preschool special education services. CMSD offers a range of preschool special education programs, including half-day (up to 8 students), full-day “six-six” classes (6 students with disabilities and 6 typical peers), and integrated Pre-K (up to 20 students). Another option is for children to receive services in their day care setting or other early childhood program from a certified Itinerant Preschool Intervention Specialist. Services may also be provided for identified 4-year-olds in District Pre-Kindergarten classes.
My child is almost 3 years old and I suspect he/she may not be developing like other kids. What should I do?
Visit our Preschool Special Education Page
Additional ResourcesCenter for Parent Information and Resources – Developmental Delay