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Carol Rapport-Sommer, Director of Special Education
Michael
Melasky, Special Education Administrator
Jacqueline
Smallwood, Special Education Administrator
50 Foggintown Road
278-8570
Please visit our new BHS
Special Education web site
Whenever possible, students with disabilities will be educated in their home school. Special education services are available to students between the ages of 5-21. The following services/programs are available in the Brewster Central School District:
RELATED SERVICES:
- Speech Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Counseling
- Nursing Services
CONSULTANT TEACHER SERVICES
These are services provided by a special education teacher either directly to the student who is in a regular education program or indirectly to the student’s regular education teacher(s). Direct services are specially designed individualized or group instruction that is provided a minimum of two hours per week to aid the student to benefit from regular education classes. Indirect service is consultation provided by a certified special education teacher to regular education teachers to assist them in adjusting the learning environment and/or modifying their instructional methods to meet the individual needs of a student with a disability who attends their classes.
SPECIAL CLASSES (Inclusion)
Students with disabilities receive instruction within a regular education classroom with nondisabled peers on a per subject or full time basis. Instruction and support is delivered collaboratively by both the regular and special education teacher. These classes are available at every grade level and in all school buildings.
SPECIAL CLASSES (Self-Contained Class)
Students with disabilities receive instruction in a separate location in groups of no more than 15 on a per subject or full time basis. Instruction is delivered by a special education teacher. Students at the high school level may receive credit towards a local/regents diploma.
OTHER PROGRAMS TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
Adaptive Physical Education: This is a specially designed program of developmental activities, games, sports and rhythms suited to the interests, capacities and limitations of students with disabilities who may not safely or successfully engage in unrestricted participation in the activities of the regular physical education program.
Academic Labs/Learning Centers: Available
at the middle and high school. Certified teachers
provide small group instruction in various subjects
areas to those students who are experiencing difficulty.
Specialized Reading Program: Available at all levels. This is specially designed reading instruction to students with disabilities who have significant reading difficulties that cannot be met through general reading programs. Instruction is provided by certified reading teachers or special education teachers who are trained in various reading programs.
OUT OF DISTRICT PLACEMENTS - BOCES
Students will disabilities who need more intensive services or programs not available in the home school may be educated in the Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES or Southern Westchester BOCES. BOCES programs are located in local public school districts or other sites that include regular students. Area schools that house BOCES classes include: Briarcliff, Yorktown, Ossining, North Salem, Lakeland, Hendrick Hudson, Mahopac, Croton, Chappaqua,
PRIVATE DAY PROGRAMS
On occasion, students may have educational needs that are so severe that they cannot be met in a public school or in a BOCES program. The school district may then apply to the State Education Department for approval for placement in an approved private day school. Such area programs may include:
- Westchester Exceptional Children - Purdys, N.Y.
- Summit School - Upper Nyack, N.Y.
- Green Chimney’s School - Brewster, N.Y.
- Clear View School Day Treatment - Scarborough, N.Y.
- Margaret Chapman School - Hawthorne, N.Y.
RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS
In some cases, even the structure of an approved private day school may not be sufficient to educate certain students and the district must consider a placement in an approved private residential school. This can occur only after all other options have been explored. Approved residential programs are available throughout NYS or out-of-state.
PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS
Students between the ages of 3 to 5 who are classified as a preschool student with a disability are eligible for services/programs. Related services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, or physical therapy are available through Putnam County. Other special education services/programs are available through State- approved agencies such as: Putnam ARC and Hudson Valley UCP.
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