Coalition officers in attendance: Helen Kotsky, Don Scarl, Larry Fisher, John DeMarino
General Audience: 15 people
TOPIC: GLEN COVE SCHOOL DISTRICT SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
President Helen Kotzky introduced speakers Mary Murphy, Director, and Diane Ditchfield, Assistant Director, of Special Education Programs at Glen Cove School District. A slide show presentation was given with included audience questions.
A description was given about each of the New York State List of Disabilities for Special Education: autism, deafness, deaf-blindness, emotional disturbances, hearing impairment, learning disability, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, orthopedic, other health impairment, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, and visual impairment including blindness.
In the Glen Cove School District through high school there currently are 452 students in Special Education programs. There are also 100 pre-school children provided services ages 3-4 years.
We have Resource Rooms /teachers district wide that provide help for students who are pulled out of classrooms as well as consultants who push into regular class rooms to assist teachers provide help to special education students.
Related services include counseling for speech, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Classroom teachers are being taught how to work with special education students in resource rooms or classrooms. The goal is to keep students in Glen Cove Schools versus sending them to out of school sites like BOCES. Assistive technology is used like Alpha Smarts, Neos Inspiration Software, Computer Equipment, and Smart Boards. The programs goal is to keep general education and special education aligned and to educate students in least restrictive environment.
The program was warmly received by those attending who asked many questions.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM
Submitted by John DeMarino, Secretary