The Department of Special Services provides educational programming and support to students with special needs. Programs for all disability areas are available to students in the district. General information may be obtained by calling 243-7470.
The School District of New Richmond provides support to students with disabilities through an Individual Education Plan with support in the following areas:

• Specially Designed Physical Education
• Emotional/Behavioral Disability
• Specific Learning Disability
• Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy
• Psychological Services
• School Health Services
• Speech & Language Impairment
• Homebound Instruction
• Pre-School Screening
• Cognitive Disability
• Early Childhood Special Education
• CESA Contracted Services for Low Incidence

  - Vision Impairment
  - Hearing Impairment

Students with disabilities not qualifying for special education may also receive services through a 504-accomodation plan.

Referrals

Children with suspected disabilities can be referred for an evaluation by contacting the school psychologist assigned to your child's building.

Some buildings offer a teacher assistance team intervention model to assist students experiencing difficulties in school. This team will help decide if a student should be referred for a Special Education evaluation. Please contact your child's building principal and/or counselor for more information.

Additional written information and resources will be provided upon request by calling 243-7470.

Child Development Days Pre-School

Each year the Special Services Department conducts pre-school screenings. All children should be screened at least one time prior to kindergarten. Vision and hearing should be checked twice before kindergarten. If a parent has a concern, the child can be screened more than once before entering kindergarten. Child Development Days are held for students and parents to learn about child development and for the child to be screened for potential need areas. Please watch the newspaper for dates. For further information on the pre-school screening process, please contact 243-7470.

Special Services Family Connections (previously known as Parents as Partners)

What do we do for children with special needs and their families?

• Help build positive communication between parents and educators
• Provide opportunities for parents to network together
• Help parents access resources, support, and training
• Encourage parental involvement in their child's educational program
• Develop parental skills to help parents serve as the primary advocate and work in partnership with educators.

For more information about the Parents as Partners program, meeting dates, parent resource library, conferences or workshops available on a variety of special needs or if you would like to talk to another parent of a child with similar needs, call Sue Curtis 243-8423.