Special Education

State and federal regulations have been established to define children with exceptionalities. "Exceptional children" means children with disabilities and children identified as gifted.

Exceptionality categories include:

• Autism
• Blindness/Visual Impairment
• Deaf - Blindness
• Developmental Delay
• Emotional Disturbance
• Gifted
• Hearing Impairment/Deafness
• Intellectual Disability
• Learning Disability
• Multiple Disabilities
• Orthopedic impairment
• Other Health Impairment
• Speech or Language Impairment
• Traumatic Brain Injury

Your child's teacher and building principal should be your first contact regarding questions about Special Education Services.

Wyandotte Comprehensive Special Education Cooperative

2010 N 59th St., Kansas City, Kansas 66104

913-627-5600

Executive Director of Special Education: Dr. Ja'Kyta Lawrie, jakyta.lawrie@kckps.org

Assistant Director of Special Education: Dana Nelson, dana.nelson@kckps.org

Special Education Compliance Officer: Doretha Henry, doretha.henry@kckps.org

2022-23 Special Education Coordinators

Wyandotte County Infant Toddler Services Coordinator: Dr. Debbie Lair, debbie.lair@kckps.org

Administrative Assistant for Special Education: Monique Sotelo, monique.sotelo@kckps.org, 913-627-5674

For Special Education Records, contact Gail Smith, Secretary-Student Information Management, gail.smith@kckps.org, 913-627-2635

Kansas Special Education Process Handbook

The Kansas Special Education Process Handbook was developed to provide guidance, resources and supports necessary for those professionals who work to improve results for exceptional children. The information provided in the Kansas Special Education Process Handbook attempts to clarify and define legal requirements of the law and regulations. Each chapter includes a brief overview specifying requirements that are particular to Kansas. In addition, each chapter includes links to valuable resources, sample forms and references.

Parents Rights - English

Parents Rights - Spanish

The reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), in 2004, retained important procedures which schools must use when evaluating eligibility for special education services, when developing or changing a child's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or when attempting to resolve serious disputes regarding special education issues. These procedures are sometimes referred to as "procedural safeguards" or "parent rights." The procedural safeguards specified in the IDEA were primarily designed to help schools and parents work together to develop effective educational programs for children with disabilities.

Each school district must make a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) available to all children with exceptionalities. One of the most important considerations for individualized education program (IEP) teams is the special education, related services, and supplementary aids and services to be provided to the child or on behalf of the child. The IEP team must also consider the program modifications or supports for school personnel that will be provided on behalf of the child. All services and supports are provided to enable the child: (1) to advance appropriately toward attaining the annual goals; (2) to be involved in and make progress in the general education curriculum, or appropriate activities for children ages 3 -? 5; (3) to participate in extracurricular and other nonacademic activities; and (4) to be educated and participate with their nondisabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate, in all of these activities.

Related services are developmental, corrective, and supportive services required to assist a child, who has been identified as a child with an exceptionality, to benefit from special education services.

Kansas Regulation, K.A.R 91-40-1(ccc) includes the following as related services:

• Art therapy
• Assistive technology devices and services
• Audiology
• Counseling services
• Dance movement services
• Early identification and assessment of disabilities
• Interpreting services
• Medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes
• Music therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Orientation and mobility services
• Parent counseling and training
• Physical therapy
• Recreation, including therapeutic recreation
• Rehabilitation counseling services
• School health services
• School nurse services
• School psychological services
• School social work services
• Speech and language
• Transportation
• Other developmental, corrective or supportive services

What is the Infant-Toddler Services Program?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates special education for children from birth through age 21. A section of this law (Part C) sets guidelines for services for infants and toddlers with disabilities. The State of Kansas administers these services through the Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), and Kansas City Kansas Public Schools serves as the lead financial agency for the Wyandotte County Infant Toddler Program (WYCO ITS). WY CO ITS serves all eligible children in Wyandotte County including children residing in the Turner, Bonner Springs, Edwardsville, and Piper school district boundaries.

Who Is Eligible for Services?

Infant-Toddler Services are provided to all eligible children through age 36 months and their families. Eligibility is determined by a multi-disciplinary evaluation which demonstrates the child has a 25% delay in one developmental area, or a 20% developmental delay in two or more developmental areas or a ​diagnosed condition from a medical provider that is likely to result in such a delay. Wyandotte County Infant Toddler Services program serves all eligible children who reside in Wyandotte County, KS.

Approximately 600 children ​and families receive services annually through this program.

What Services are Provided?

A variety of services are named in the Part C regulations and must be available if needed. In practice, most children and families’ needs are met by one or more of the following services: Developmental Intervention, Speech Language Services, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy, Social Work, or Vision and Hearing Services.

The focus of all services is to increase the capacity of families to work toward identified outcomes with their own children in the child’s natural environment. ​Parents are collaborative partners in designing strategies and interventions and supporting growth between home visits.  An Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is written with each family. As a part of every plan, one of the service providers will assume the role of Family Service Coordinator (FSC). The FSC is responsible for monitoring the IFSP process and connecting the family to other resources necessary to meet their needs.

Where are the Services Provided?

In accordance with best practices and state and federal regulations, children are served in their natural environments to the maximum extent possible. This is defined as being a place where children would naturally be if they did not have a disability. Most often, this is the family home or childcare setting, but could include other community settings, as well. During the current pandemic, all services are being provided through tele-health intervention.

What if I think a child may need services?

Anyone can make a referral. Most often, referrals come from health care providers, other community agencies (Parents as Teachers, Early Head Start, etc.) and family members. A referral can be made by calling 913.627.5500 or by accessing the online referral form at https://www.wycoinfanttoddlerservices.org.

When a referral is made, a member of our staff will contact the family within 2 working days. An intake call is scheduled with the family to prepare for a full evaluation of the child. If the child is eligible, the service providers and family work together to create the Individualized Family Service Plan. The plan is reviewed each six months and continues until the child turns three or is no longer eligible.

Services are provided at no cost to families.

For additional information regarding services through the Wyandotte County Infant-Toddler Services program, please contact https://www.wycoinfanttoddlerservices.org or call 913-627-5500 and talk to a staff member about your questions. You may also email WY CO ITS at info.wycoinfanttoddler@gmail.com.