Exceptional Learners

MSD of Lawrence Township provides educational services to students eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Indiana Article 7 rules for the following disability categories:

Autism - AUT
Blind or Low Vision - BLV
Deaf- Blind - DB
Developmental Delay - DD
Deaf or Hard of Hearing - DHH
Emotional Disability - ED
Language or Speech Impairment - LSI
Multiple Disabilities - MD
Other Health Impaired - OHI
Orthopedic Impairment - OI
Specific Learning Disability - SLD
Traumatic Brain Injury - TBI

Special Education Rules - Title 511 Article 7

School psychologists are available in every school in Lawrence Township Schools. They are highly trained specialists in human growth and development, educational psychology, education, mental health and learning and behavioral change.

Their training and experience enable them to collaborate with other school personnel and parents to enhance children's learning and social-emotional development and adjustment. They promote the application of research-based psychological principles to assist in program development, instruction, and evaluation. Psychologists also serve with others as problem solvers in facilitating positive changes in learning environments, attitudes, and motivation in order to assist children to succeed academically, socially, and as good citizens.

The major functions of school psychologists may include:

Education and Prevention:

• Collaboration for interventions in home and school settings
• Development of teaching and learning strategies
• Providing classroom management strategies
• Assisting with functional behavioral assessment and plans
• Participating in crisis management
• Development of programs for children at risk
• Participating in school-wide initiatives to promote safer, more effective schools
• Facilitating small skills groups

Consultation:

• Team/school planning and problem solving
• Community-based collaboration with mental health and other agencies
• Participation in the General Education Intervention/Response to Intervention process.

Assessment:

• Learning environments
• Academic skills/learning aptitudes
• Personality/social skills/emotional development
• Participation in the special education eligibility process
• Using and analyzing data to drive instructional decisions

• Center on Community Living and Careers - Indiana Institute on Disability and Community Indiana University - TRANSITION IEP's begin when the student is age 14 or older to plan for transition to adult programming and services. MSD of Lawrence Township has compiled these resources to help students and their families prepare for Transition to Adult Living.
• Scholarships for Students with Disabilities - Discover scholarships, both narrowly- and broadly-focused, that can help students with disabilities pay for their educations, as well as additional resources for obtaining funding.
• Resources for Students with Disabilities - Find specific information and resources on a variety of different disabilities, learn how to make the transition into the workforce easier, and find out what your legal rights on campus are.
• More information and resources to Online Colleges

Medicaid Waiver Information

The Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services (BDDS) provides services for individuals with developmental disabilities that enable them to live as independently as possible in their communities. BDDS assists individuals in receiving community supports and residential services using a person-centered plan to help determine which services are needed and who can best provide them. BDDS also monitors the quality of care and the facilities of those who are approved to provide these services in Indiana.

Indiana offers Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver programs that target specific groups.  Waiver services allow members to live in a community setting and avoid institutional placement.  To be eligible for any waiver program, you must meet Medicaid guidelines and waiver eligibility guidelines.

• Online application for caregiver Support Services

Independent Living

• Centers for Independent Living

Transportation

• IndyGo How To Ride Guide
• IndyGo How To Ride IndyFlex Guide
• Plotting the Course for Success - An Individualized Mentoring Plan for Youth with Disabilities

Education/Training

• Youthhood - This Web site was built to help you plan for the future. What will you do after high school? Will you work? Go to college? Live in a place of your own? By using this site, you can plan for your future right now!
• Comparing High School and College for Students with Disabilities: Key Differences
• Association of Higher Education and Disabilities

Employment

• Questions You Can Ask When Shopping for Adult Vocational Services
• EMPLOYABILITY CHECK UP - Use this tool to select an occupation and industry, a state and locality, an education level and a wage level. This information will be used to create your "employability profile" to help you make good career choices.  After completing your profile you will be led to a list of job banks and job training resources in your state. 
• Employment Planning Guide for Families of Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities -  this booklet will help families get started with the school-to-work transition process. Readers will learn about resources, services, and programs available for young adults with intellectual disabilities in Massachusetts; and find inspiration in the many success stories of young adults who have secured fulfilling employment with appropriate supports. 
• Going To Work: Real People, Real Jobs -The Institute for Community Inclusion's Real People, Real Jobs website is a growing catalogue of success stories about individuals working in paid jobs in their communities. Through the use of innovative, front-line employment support practices, these individuals are earning money, forming networks, and contributing to their communities. Learn more about these people and the promising practices that led to their success.

• Learning Disabilities - LD Online - LD OnLine.org is the world's leading web site on learning disabilities and ADHD, serving more than 200,000 parents, teachers, and other professionals each month.
   
• Premier Assistive Technology Software - accessible software for learning disabilities affecting reading, writing and information transfer needs for individuals with visual, cognitive and mobility challenges. Applications include: Talking word Processor with Word Prediction - reads printed or typed information, E-text reader and e-library, Talking calculator, Universal Reader and Reader Plus - highlight and reads aloud text on web sites, Predictor Pro Word Prediction and many more.
   
• Handwriting Without Tears - The developmentally based, flexible, and engaging Handwriting Without Tears® program is the easiest, most effective way for children to develop good handwriting skills. It has been used successfully by more than 10 million children.

As outlined in Article 7, students are provided with the availability of a Continuum of Service. A case conference committee gathers to discuss the needs and services a student requires to have access to his or her least restrictive environment. The outcomes of those discussions and decisions are written in a child’s IEP to ensure compliance.

The Continuum of Services are offered to all students from Preschool to age 22. Preschool special education services are provided for students starting at age 3 to ensure early intervention supports and services are provided. In order to receive special education services in pre-School services are discussed and agreed upon in a case conference to provide services to address any social/emotional, academic, and/or developmental disorders. For students in Kindergarten to age 22 services are provided through a continuum.