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Special Education
K-12 Programming
Special education services are available to address the educational needs of disabled students. Minnesota has thirteen categorical disability areas and families can access information, resources, and contacts for each of the different areas through the special education staff at each building. A team of qualified professionals, including parent(s), determines whether the student meets criteria in one of the thirteen categorical disability areas and is in need of special education services. Our staff provides an atmosphere of respect, help and encourages students to improve their weaknesses and capitalize on strengths to become independent in school and in the community. We provide a least restrictive environment based upon the students goals and needs. Our staff protects student rights and demonstrates program benefit by applying state and federal due process laws.
A more detailed description of district programming in some of the thirteen disability catergories follows. To access other information about all disability categories, go to the Minnesota Department of Education Categorical Disabilities Webpage.
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)- There is no known single cause for autism, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in children with autism versus neuro-typical children. Researchers are investigating a number of theories, including the link between heredity, genetics and medical problems. In many families, there appears to be a pattern of autism or related disabilities, further supporting a genetic basis to the disorder. While no one gene has been identified as causing autism, researchers are searching for irregular segments of genetic code that children with autism may have inherited. It also appears that some children are born with a susceptibility to autism, but researchers have not yet identified a single "trigger" that causes autism to develop.
Developmental Cognitive Disabilities (DCD)-
Developmental Cognitive Disability is defined as a condition that results in intellectual functioning significantly below average and is associated with concurrent deficits in adaptive behavior that require special education and related services.
Developmental disabilities:
Speech Services The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines speech/language impairment as ga communication disorder such as stuttering, impaired articulation, language impairment or a voice impairment that adversely affects a studentfs educational performance.h
District 16 Speech Clinicians will work with families to diagnose and treat these symptoms through the Individual Educational Plan (IEP) process.
Work Based Learning
The mission of the Work/Based Learning Program is to provide special education students the opportunity for pre-occupational work training, career exploration and on the job site support. The students will be provided with work]based learning instruction to ensure the development of skills needed to become competitive employees in the community. These skills should include]but not limited to]problem solving, career development, communication, work ethics and work habits. It is the intent of the program to assist students in their job search and to provide work site support as needed.
Adapted Athletics
Interscholastic sports are the most competitive of all sports programs at the high school level and are the only sports sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL). Adapted Athletics are interscholastic sports that are just as competitive as football, hockey or any other high school varsity sport. Adapted Athletics emerged and developed to this point over the last 20 years with considerable input from many sources including coaches, educators, former players and high school league officials. In fact, it was the players themselves that wanted an opportunity to play in a sports program that was "just like the programs offered to their classmates".
The goal of the program has always been to provide sports experiences for high school athletes with disabilities in the same manner that they have been provided for non-disabled athletes. Minnesota is the first state where adapted sports have been officially sanctioned by a state high school league. The following indoor sports are offered by the MSHSL: Adapted Soccer (Fall), Adapted Floor Hockey (Winter), Adapted Softball (Spring) and Adapted Bowling (Spring).
At Spring Lake Park students have to opportunity to participate in Adapted Soccer, Adapted Floor Hockey and Adapted Softball in the Cognitive Impairment division through the North Suburban Adapted Athletics Co-op. We also offer Adapted Bowling in the spring for both the Cognitive and Physical Impairment divisions.
Northeast Metro Intermediate School District 916 | Website
To assist the district with providing services for students with more significant needs, we consult with Intermediate District 916/Northeast Metro. Northeast Metro Intermediate School District 916's Special Education Department provides highly structured, safe learning environments that address students' academic, social, emotional, behavior and communication needs.
For further information concerning the specific disabilities go to Glossary of Terms or Resources.
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