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K4: Awareness of the pre-referral, referral, and placement process used for identifying and serving students with Other Health Disabilities.

K7: Understanding of basic assistive and health technology used to support students with OHD.

S2: Demonstrate the ability to adapt, modify, or structure the environment to accommodate the diverse needs of students with OHD.

S3: Demonstrates the ability to modify instructional methods as needed by students with OHD (including selecting, adapting, and using specialized materials and instructional strategies to maximize learning) in accordance with the Individualized Education Program.

1aR

3aR

Eligibility for Special Education

Picture of a medical professional talking to a student whose arm is in a sling. A student who comes to school with health conditions is not automatically eligible for special education services and supports; however, when the health condition impedes academic progress, educators need to evaluate the student and consider special education options for him/her.

The process of determining eligibility for special education services begins when the parent shares information about the student’s health condition with school staff. Next, the school nurse documents the health condition in the student’s health record and works with the student and parent(s) to address and meet health needs during the school day. The student’s teachers are informed of the student’s health condition and any interventions or accommodations that are needed during the school day.

The school nurse and parents develop an individualized health plan and/or emergency care plan to address the needs of and support the student at school. An educational or child study team may be convened to evaluate the need to assess the student for special education. The team begins to collect the necessary data about the student, with written permission from the parents, to help determine what services may be needed to help the student.

Teachers, an administrator (principal), school nurse, parents, and paraprofessionals working with the student contribute to this assessment and to determine if the student might qualify for special education services and support. The key to determining eligibility is whether the student is experiencing difficulty in his/her educational progress and this lack of progress can be linked to the health condition. There must be two documented interventions with the student prior to making a referral to the special education team.

Once the team determines that the student is demonstrating lack of progress for special education services, the evaluation process begins. However, the school team must secure written permission from the parent before beginning this evaluation and data collection process and convening a child study team.

References

Minnesota Department of Education. (2007). Other Health Disabilities Companion Manual (Draft). St. Paul: Author. Retrieved March 29, 2007, from http://education.state.mn.us/mdeprod/groups/SpecialEd/documents/Publication/001683.pdf