The Special Education Division of Green Valley Area Education Agency identifies and provides support services to area children, birth to age 21, with disabilities. We work together with 21 school districts, one private school, students and parents, to make sure a child's disability isn't interfering with his or her learning. We don't want any of our children to slide through the cracks of education. Our staff members and your child's teacher identify an devaluate children with special needs according to state and federal requirements. Than a team of GVAEA staff, school personnel, parents, and sometimes the student, develop a plan for assisting and teaching each individual child.

Services offered through GVAEA's Special Education Division:

*Assistive Technology-Technology which makes tasks in daily life more comfortable, convenient, and independent for children with disabilities.

*Child Health Specialty Clinic (formerly known as Child Diagnostic and Planning Service (CDPS))-Multi-discipline, multi-agency sponsored program designed to coordinate medical, educational and social planning for children suspected of having challenges that may affect their learning.

*FOCUS Program-Educational support is provided by GVAEA for this behavioral program.

*Early Childhood Special Education-Screening and instructional programming for preschool-age children with disabling conditions.

*Early Intervention Services-Services for young children birth to age 3 with disabilities and their families. These services include education, direct service to children and parents, and coordination with social services and public health.

*Hearing Conservation/Education-Specialists work to prevent and identify hearing losses in children. Medical referral, counseling, hearing screening, academic and non-academic programs are also provided.

*Hospital/Homebound Programs-Programs designed at all grade levels to provide instructional services to individual children with short term disabilities, or a disability that makes it hard for a child to attend school.

*Parent Educator Connection-A support network between families and educators for the education and well-being of children and young adults with special needs.

*Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy-Physical therapists are provided by contract through outside agencies. Green Valley AEA 14 has an Occupational Therapist on staff.

*School Psychology-School psychologists assist in determining the psychological and educational strengths and challenges of a child. They also provide support to teachers and direct services to students as needed.

*School Social Work-School social workers serve as a link between home, school and community. Services provided are designed to assist with communication between the home and school, problem solving, resource acquisition, interpersonal relations, and coping with life demands.

*Shelter Care Instructional Program-Green Valley AEA supplies the instructional program and facility for troubled youth placed in the shelter facility in Lamoni.

*Speech-Language-Speech-Language personnel are responsible for identification, evaluation, and treatment of children with articulation, language, voice, and fluency disorders.

*Teams-When the need arises, Green Valley AEA has several teams ready to help. These include an Autism Team, Crisis Response Team, Head Injury Resource Team, Special Health Needs Resource Team, and Teacher Consultant Team.

*Transition-Staff work with students, parents, school personnel and community agencies to assist special education youth move from school to adult life.

*Visually Impaired Education Services-Instructional services for students who have visual impairments that interfere with their learning.

*Work Experience-Programs provided for secondary students with disabling conditions to help them develop job-seeking/keeping skills, on-the-job attitudes and career exploration through community experiences.

How can my child and my family receive these services?

Ordinarily, a request for Special Education services is made to the building principal, who will fill out a referral form and obtain prior written parental or legal guardian consent for service. In addition to the principal, it is possible for teachers, parents, other agencies, or students themselves to request services.

Please call Green Valley Area Education Agency at (641) 782-8443 or 1-800-362-1864 with your questions and requests for information.