LEARN SSS Support Services and Programs by LEARN

Support Services and Programs

Mission:

LEARN’s Office of Student Support Services is committed to fostering the success of each individual student by providing customized and high quality educational opportunities, services, and programs. 2

Overview LEARN’s Office of Student Support Services is committed to providing a wide range of high quality, customized services and interventions that support the diverse educational needs of students. We collaborate with schools and districts to customize programming to meet the individual needs of students. Our services are grounded in the application of evidence-based practices and a commitment to building strong partnerships to enhance students’ access to and engagement in high quality educational experiences. We maintain a robust network of skilled professional staff, providing services in the areas of special education, speech and language, occupational and physical therapy, behavior analysis, social-emotional development, family support, and transition. A continuum of services is available depending upon district, student, and family needs.

“Each and every day, our dynamic staff uses their high-level skill and knowledge to ensure each student receives a personalized learning experience.” - Kate Ericson, LEARN Executive Director

Our Team

Who We Serve LEARN’s Office of Student Support Services serves southeastern Connecticut schools, districts, students, and families. The team strives to ensure that students are educated within their least restrictive environment. To that end, the Student Support Services staff collaborates with district stakeholders to implement actionable plans designed to build the capacity of staff in educating students with diverse educational needs.

A core team of highly skilled practitioners and educators is integral to supporting the educational success of every child. LEARN prides itself on the individual and collective abilities of each member of the Student Supports Services team. The team is equipped to provide high quality supports. Whether districts are exploring consultative, embedded, or related services or seeking professional learning opportunities for staff, LEARN is prepared to serve their needs. The Office of Student Support Services also provides specialized assessments for students, complete or partial special education program reviews, and highly specialized outplacement programs for students with complex learning and behavior needs.

The team includes the following bachelors, masters, 6th year, and doctoral level staff and continues to grow: • Assistive Technology Specialist • Augmentative Communication Specialists • Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) (BCBA-D) • Clinical Psychologist • Family and Caregiver Liaison • Intervention Specialists • Medical Advisor • Nurses • Occupational Therapists (OTs) • Physical Therapists (PTs) • Psychiatrist • Registered Behavior Technicians • School Psychologists • Social Workers • Special Education Teachers • Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs)

The LEARN Difference

• Transition Specialists

LEARN’s Office of Student Support Services is dedicated to the educational success of each and every child. The team builds and customizes evidence-based services and programs driven by student needs, family input, and through collaboration with district stakeholders.

Consultative and Related Services The Office of Student Support Services offers a broad menu of consultative and related services designed to support district and student needs. All services are delivered by highly qualified professional staff and customized to ensure efficiency and efficacy.

Professional Learning The Office of Student Support Services offers dynamic, customized training and workshops, technical assistance, and extended or embedded coaching sessions to support educators, families, and community members in understanding and meeting the needs of diverse learners. Professional learning services focus on implementation and development of plans, designing specialized instruction, and implementing systems to support the whole child. Professional learning opportunities are offered in school districts or at LEARN and can be customized to suit individual district needs.

Topics: • Applied behavior analysis • Behavioral supports ifferentiated instruction and universal • D design for learning

Embedded Services

isability specific identification and • D programming

The Office of Student Support Services provides highly qualified staff to integrate with district teams to provide students access to the supports and services they require. BCBAs, SLPs, OTs, PTs, social workers, psychologists, and special educators may be contracted to seamlessly act as integral members of district teams, providing direct services to students while helping build staff capacity.

Consultative and Coaching Services

Professionals are available to consult with our coaching teams or individual staff members to assist with, and build capacity for, implementation of evidence-based educational practices.

Specialized Evaluations

The Office of Student Support Services team has collectively conducted thousands of evaluations over the past several years. Unlike one-size-fits-all assessments, evaluators work with teams to create questions to guide and individualize the assessment process. This ensures that key information related to student functioning is collected, analyzed, and interpreted, thereby allowing for clear and comprehensive recommendations to be provided. Whether there is a need for an assessment for a possible learning disability, an autism-specific evaluation, a speech and language evaluation, a functional behavior assessment, a psychiatric evaluation, a psycho-educational evaluation, an occupational or physical therapy evaluation, or a safety and risk assessment, LEARN staff will assist teams in effectively planning a student’s educational program.

Program Reviews

The Office of Student Support Services leadership team facilitates program reviews or audits, which vary based on identified needs and essential questions. The process involves a systematic review of a classroom-based, schoolwide, or districtwide special education program utilizing multiple data sources. The purpose is to provide feedback and highlight areas of strength, as well as inform program changes to assist district leaders and staff in meeting student needs and ensuring access to high quality programs.

• Dyslexia • Early childhood special education • Educational benefit “When I started in my position, LEARN completed a comprehensive program review of our special education department. The recommendations were broken down into phases so I have a clear direction of what I need to accomplish each year. The LEARN staff also completed the document in a short period of time so we would have the report for budget season. The Student Support Services team has guided me through each step of the process and are always there for support when I have questions.” - Elizabeth Battaglia, Ed.D. Director of Special Education and Student Services Madison Public Schools

• Feeding and swallowing in the schools rofessional Individualized Education • P Plan (IEP) development • Mental health • School avoidance and chronic absenteeism • S peech and language development and intervention • Specialized instruction • Social emotional development • Transition services • Trauma • Understanding learning differences

Audiences: • Administrators

• Instructional Assistants

• School Psychologists

• Behavior Technicians

• Occupational Therapists

• Special Education Teachers

• B oard Certified Behavior Analysts and Nurses

• Physical Therapists

• Speech Language Pathologists

• Regular Education Teachers

• Social Workers

SPECIALIZED PROGRAM:

Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Disabilities

Social-Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities

“...I like meetings where not only do we get to network with staff and other parents, but it lets us know that we are not alone when it comes to some of the struggles we may face at home. I enjoyed it a lot and I look forward to next month’s meeting. You guys are providing a great tool to parents.” - Tod Johnston, Parent

Student Goals & Outcomes Increasing communication skills. Acquiring skills to be independent. Generalizing skills across environments. Decreasing interfering behaviors.

Customized and individualized programming in all areas

Behavioral and mental health supports to support the whole child

Supportive environments and well-designed learning spaces to promote safety and independence

Transdisciplinary approach, utilizing ABA principles and other evidence-based practices

Locations

Pre-K - Elementary Ocean Avenue LEARNing Academy

Middle - High School Ocean Avenue LEARNing Academy

High School - Transition LEARN Transition Academy Ocean Avenue LEARNing Academy

Student Goals & Outcomes Developing responsibility for their own learning and behavior. Recognizing and practicing self regulation and executive functioning skills. Building and repairing relationships by working through conflict in healthy ways. Practicing self care, self awareness, social awareness, and empathy. Understanding, requesting, and advocating for resources that support their needs.

SPECIALIZED PROGRAM: Transition Services 18 -21 Program

SPECIALIZED PROGRAM: Diagnostic and Wellness Center

“The staff of LEARN treats every student with respect and helps encourage success by modeling the correct behaviors and talking students through difficulties and teaching them new strategies. Today my son is preparing to enter college. We could not have done this without the help of the caring staff at LEARN. They saw his potential and encouraged him to pursue his dreams. We will forever be grateful and proud to be a member of the LEARN family.” - Stephanie Johnson, Parent

Customized programming to promote post-school success - academics, life skills, recreation, self-care, social, employment Related services as appropriate to support independence and generalization Supportive environments, well-designed spaces, and community access to foster independence Internships and community integration to support all areas of development

Locations LEARN Transition Academy Ocean Avenue LEARNing Academy

Student Goals & Outcomes Developing responsibility for their own learning and behavior.

“Our Student Support Services team customizes and delivers high quality services to ensure that all students reach their potential.”

Individualized evaluations to guide programming and support of development Comprehensive behavioral and mental health supports to the whole child Transdisciplinary approach to programming and evaluations

Recognizing and practicing skills in real world environments to develop independence.

Recommendations for supports in the least restrictive environment at the end of diagnostic evaluation

Building community connections and skills to support all areas of life.

Locations

Setting goals for post-school connections and outcomes – including employment.

Pre-K - Elementary Ocean Avenue LEARNing Academy

Understanding and advocating for resources that support their needs in school and beyond.

Middle - High School Ocean Avenue LEARNing Academy High School - Transition LEARN Transition Academy Ocean Avenue LEARNing Academy

- Bridgette Gordon-Hickey LEARN Deputy Executive Director

Student Goals & Outcomes Recognizing and practicing self regulation and executive functioning skills. Understanding, requesting, and advocating for resources that support their needs. Recognizing that they have responsibility for their own learning and behavior. Demonstrating self regulation in order to access educational opportunities.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES LEADERSHIP TEAM Bridgette Gordon-Hickey LEARN Deputy Executive Director bghickey@learn.k12.ct.us Sarah Moon LEARN Director of Special Services smoon@learn.k12.ct.us Erica Mahon LEARN Principal/Director of Specialized Programs emahon@learn.k12.ct.us

660 Ocean Avenue New London, CT 06320 860-400-0840 sss@learn.k12.ct.us

44 Hatchetts Hill Road Old Lyme, CT 06371 860-434-4800