Special Programs Summary

The Special Education Department of the Jackson-Madison County School System is proactive in establishing innovative programs in order to meet the diverse needs of the students who attend the schools in our district. The following summary highlights information about the specialized programs within our school system and is intended to provide insight into the services provided under each program. Programs with informational brochures and manuals are noted with an asterisk (*).

• Pre-School Program
  
  The Pre-School program serves children ages 3 - 5. The program provides services for the three-year old population at Washington Douglas; the four-year old program is located on the North Side High School campus and incorporates the typical peer model with integration of non-disabled peers from the childcare program at the high school; and the five-year old program is located at Parkview Montessori School.

• Pre-School Parent Training*
  
  The Parent Training Program is offered in modules beginning with the area of transition. The target audience for this program is parents of two-year-old children turning three prior to the beginning of the school year as well as parents of children already in the program. Last Wednesday in every month from 11am - 12pm
   
• Transportation
   Special education transportation is provided to eligible students with disabilities. Students are transported from their homes to their assigned schools and back to their homes at the end of the school day.

• Autism Behavioral Communication Disorders Team
  Jackson- Madison County Schools Special Education Department has established an Autism Resource Team consisting of the supervisor of special education, two speech therapists, a behavioral consultant, an occupational therapist, one school psychologist, the Assistive Technology consultant, and two classroom teachers.
  
  The focus of the team is to become more specialized in the area of autism spectrum disorder. The team is responsible for multiple activities including planning and implementing staff development, developing screening and evaluation procedures for children with suspected autism, and creating a resource library.
   
• ABLE Program*
  
  The Special Education Department in the Jackson-Madison County School System recognized that students in our system who were certified as emotionally disturbed were in need of a specialized program that could build academic, social, behavioral, interpersonal, and motivational skills. The program currently serves students in grades 5-8 at the following school sites: Andrew Jackson, and Northeast.

• Day Treatment Program*
  
  The Jackson-Madison County Day Treatment Program is a collaborative effort between Charter Lakeside Hospital and Jackson-Madison County Schools Special Education Department. The program is located at 227 McCowat. The program originally began as a placement for secondary students in need of an intensive treatment component integrated with their academic program at a site removed from their home school. An elementary component has been added to the program and the current license allows placement of 12 students. The program includes individual and group counseling, a psychiatrist on site one day each week, a program manager/social worker, three classroom teachers, and three educational assistants.
   
• Assistive Technology Lab
  
  The Jackson-Madison County Assistive Technology program is proactive in identifying students who can benefit from assistive technology and to make each student as independent as possible in communicating and learning. The program aims at meeting the spirit and letter of IDEA's 2004 assistive technology requirements while evolving into a model assistive technology program for the West Tennessee Region.
  
  The Jackson-Madison County Schools Assistive Technology Grant was funded as the first pilot Assistive Technology Center from the State Department of Education beginning with the 1996-97 school year.
  
  The AT Lab is located at East Intermediate and is staffed with two consultants and three assistants. There is an assistive technology team for assessment and evaluation of students, which consists of a speech language pathologist, a vision specialist, and an occupational therapist.
  
  The staff of the AT Lab trains teachers and parents in the use of different devices and software that can help optimize a student's individual performance. The staff also offers several trainings each year to the surrounding West Tennessee special education departments to maximize the utilization of assistive technology services and devices to students within their districts.
  
  Assistive technology software and hardware are available for loan and preview to teachers and students of Jackson-Madison County Schools and West Tennessee districts through the AT Lab.
  
  
• Health Services
  
  Health Services coordinates many different aspects of medical services for our students including nursing, medical equipment needs, physical and occupational therapy and case management. We assist families in accessing resources for medical care. We also coordinate a program called Project Tech, a collaborative effort between the Department of Health and Department of Education to identify health care needs of school age children.
  
  
• Work-Based Learning Program*
  
  The Jackson-Madison County School System recognizes the need for students with disabilities to gain independence, self-worth, and productivity in their homes, schools, and community. In order to achieve this, the special education department has implemented the Work-Based Learning Program, which educates students using functional activities in the natural environment with natural consequences. The program allows the students' educational environment to extend beyond the traditional school setting into the work force with the ultimate goal being a successful transition from school to community. Businesses and schools work together to meet the student goals of securing and maintaining independent employment.
  
  
• ·Vocational Rehabilitation Services - Transition School To Work Program*
  
  The State of Tennessee Department of Human Services and the Jackson-Madison County School System have developed the Transition School to Work program to assist high school students with disabilities gain employment. Services are designed to identify transition students with disabilities in high school, and assist them as they move from school to work.

• Creating Student Success
  
  MISSION-
  The State of Tennessee Department of Human Services and the Jackson- Madison County School System have developed the Transition School to Work program to assist high school students with disabilities gain employment. Services are designed to identify transition students with disabilities in high school, and assist them as they move from school to work.
  
  REFERRAL PROCEDURES-
  Any student with a disability who is of work age or nearing his or her final year in high school may participate in the program. Information such as the student's name, address, date of birth, sex, grade level, disability, and parent's name must be provided to the case manager to initiate the referral process. Once determined eligible, the following services may be provided:
  
  *Diagnostic Medical and/or Psychological examination to determine the extent of disability and work potential.
  
  *Comprehensive Vocational Assessment determines interest, talents, and areas of employment.
  
  *Counseling and Guidance helps develop an individual's rehabilitation program and provides assistance with implementation.
  
  * Adjustment Services helps the individual acquire the personal work habits, attributes, tolerance, and skills to enter employment.
  
  *Tuition and Other Costs- within certain limits and guidelines for training ( this may include college or vocational- technical school).
  
  *Assistance with Job Placement upon Completion of Education- this could include placement into employment, provision of a job coach or interpreter for a limited time to learn job duties, follow-up and post employment services.
  
  EMPLOYER INCENTIVES
• Screened Reliable Work Force
• On the Job Training
• Job Coaching
• Site Assessment
• Employee Guidance/ Counseling
• Work Opportunities Tax Credit

For Additional Information Contact:

Shelly Bradshaw
Telephone: 731-423-5620 x315