AT (Assistive Technology) and ACC (Augmentative Communication)

AT and AAC services are designed to help meet the educational needs of students with disabilities from birth to age 21. Consultants can provide individual assessment, instruction, coaching, and professional development regarding assistive technology and augmentative & alternative communication devices.

CESA 8 offers:

• Low tech and high tech AT should be considered for any student with an IEP who has communication (reading, writing), adaptive (OT/PT), auditory, visual or process/scheduling needs.

CESA 8 can help school districts:

• Support the IEP process by identifying AT needs and appropriate equipment/ tools.

• Assist students and IEP teams in the process to purchase, buy, or use assistive technology equipment on a trial basis.

• Provide professional development and resources related to AT

The CESA 8 autism behavior consultants/trainers are available to provide trainings specifically designed to meet the needs of individual school districts, related to any aspect of ASD, including but not limited to: Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder (foundation workshop); Complex Communication Evaluation, Support, Implementation, and Training; Behavioral Analysis and Support Strategies; Child Specific Information as Requested; Support with Implementation of Collaborative and Proactive Solutions through facilitation of Assessment of Lagging Skills and Unsolved Problems (see Lives in the Balance website).

CESA 8 offers support to students with significant emotional/behavioral needs, their teachers, families and school districts.  Direct services, as well as coaching, consultation, evaluation, and professional development, are available.

  
CESA 8 offers:

• Student evaluation and IEP team participation/consultation

• Professional development opportunities for effective, proven strategies to use when working with students with emotional behavioral needs in areas such as:

• Understanding the function of a child’s behavior

• Proactive planning and effective response strategies for students with emotional/behavioral disabilities

• Evidence-Based Practices

• Self Regulation and Regulation strategies

• Functional Behavioral Assessment and Behavior Intervention Plan development and follow up.

• Coaching and follow up for staff.  

• Customized services based on specific student and district need.

CESA 8 provides educational diagnosticians to evaluate and assess students to gain information to support improved learning and/or to determine eligibility for special education services.  Our diagnosticians can lead the IEP team through eligibility criteria and help in the development of IEPs.  

CESA 8 recognizes the importance of leadership in special education and student services within a school district.  Programs and services under the umbrella of student services are often vital in ensuring that students are ready to learn and serve as the social/emotional foundation on which we build solid academic programs.  The strategic development, assessment, and execution of these services and programs is critical in order to be fiscally responsible and legally compliant in our schools.  

CESA 8 is able to provide both consultative and direct support to districts including:

• Program development, oversight, and evaluation

• Personnel hiring, supervision, and evaluation

• Budget development and monitoring

• DPI data collection and monitoring

• Procedural compliance and self-assessment

• Special education legal compliance matters

• Leadership of all special education/student services programs

• Customized services to meet a school districts specific needs

Under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) districts must provide services to children with disabilities beginning at age 3.  

CESA 8 is able to assist districts with the following:

• Child find activities including public awareness and screening

• Evaluation of students

• Transition of students from Birth-3 to school district programming

• Program development, including a continuum of services and placement options 

• Hiring, supervision, and evaluation of early childhood special education teachers and paraprofessionals

• Professional development and training for staff

Parents of a child with a disability have the right to request an IEE. An IEE is broadly defined as an evaluation conducted by a qualified examiner who is not employed by the public agency responsible for the education of the child in question. When the student’s parents disagree with the school district’s evaluation and request an IEE at public expense, the school district must pay for the IEE or request a due process hearing. 

Because the request can be broad in nature, CESA 8 has a variety of staff trained to conduct evaluations. 

Itinerant staff offer evaluation to determine eligibility under the IDEA and section 504, IEP plan development, direct services, support, consultation and professional development based on student and district needs.  

• Occupational Therapy and assistant time

• Orientation and Mobility Services (for students with VI only)

• Physical Therapy and assistant time

• Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

• Teachers of the Visually Impaired

Staff work directly where the IEP team have deemed appropriate

School Psychologists work with students ages 3-21, their families and school districts.  School psychologists can assist in the process of evaluation for eligibility of students for services under the IDEA and section 504.  School psychologists are able to conduct assessments and are also skilled in observation, goal setting, plan development and plan evaluation.  

CESA 8 hires, supervises and evaluates school psychologists in order to assist districts in filling their school psychology needs.  In addition, CESA 8 offers professional networking to school psychologists hired directly by districts.

Project SEARCH® is an internship program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their last year of school eligibility. Students are immersed in a business environment five days a week, where they learn a variety of job skills during three 10-week internship rotations. Students also learn employability skills through classroom training. The Green Bay student site started in 2015, and serves eight students per school year. 

Initiated at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in 1996 as a way to fill high-turnover positions, while, at the same time, helping young people with disabilities prepare for adult life, Project SEARCH® has since grown to 715 host sites in 48 states and 11 countries.  The Project SEARCH Student site is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and Bellin Health. 

Project SEARCH works in collaboration with the Department of Workforce Development/Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Aspiro, CESA 8, Family Care, Iris consulting agencies, school districts and our host businesses: HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and Bellin Health<

Contact Joanne Laurich, Project SEARCH Instructor, for site tours.

You can also find more information on Project SEARCH by visiting the Aspiro website.

Speech and language therapists work with students ages 3-21 who are eligible for services under the IDEA. Speech and language therapists assist with the identification of students with speech and/or language impairments, IEP plan development, and provide direct services in order to meet specific student needs.  

CESA 8 hires, supervises and evaluates speech and language therapists in order to assist districts in filling their speech and language needs. In addition, CESA 8 offers professional networking for speech and language therapists hired directly by districts.