In-District Special Education Classes and Programs Learning Support

Classes are available at all schools and include services for students who require direct or indirect services primarily in the areas of reading, writing, mathematics, speaking or listening skills related to academic performance.

Speech-Language Support

Services are available at all schools. Mild and moderate speech/language deficits are addressed. These services are for students with speech/language impairments who require direct or indirect services primarily in the area of communication or use of technologies designed to provide or facilitate the development of communication skills.

Emotional Support

Programs are available at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels for students throughout the school district. The elementary classes, K through 5^th, are located at Hillcrest Elementary School, the middle school classes, 6^th through 8^th, at Beverly Hills middle School, and the secondary classes, 9^th through 12^th, at Upper Darby High School.

These services are for students who require direct and indirect services for the development of social, emotional, and behavior skills.

Life Skills Support

Classes are offered at Hillcrest Elementary School, Drexel Hill Middle School, and the Upper Darby High School. These services are for students who require direct services primarily in the areas of functional academics and adaptive living skills. The middle school and high school level classes also address pre-vocational and vocational job skills.

Autistic Support

Classes are offered at Primos Elementary School, Drexel Hill Middle school, and the Upper Darby High School for students with moderate to severe autism. Additionally, students with mild autism spectrum disorders can often be supported through the Learning Support Program at their home schools. Services for students with autism primarily address communication, social skills, and those behaviors characteristic of autism spectrum disorders.

Vision and Hearing Support

An itinerant level of support is available within all UDSD schools and is provided by the Delaware County Intermediate Unit and the district vision therapist. These services are for: 1) students with the disability of visual impairment, including blindness whose needs are primarily in the areas of accessing print and other visual materials, acquiring orientation and mobility skills, accessing public and private accommodations, and using assistive technologies designed for individuals with visual impairments or blindness; and 2) for students with the disability of hearing impairment including deafness who require services to address communication, reading, accessing public and private accommodations, and the use of assistive technologies designed for individuals with deafness or hearing impairment.

Out-of-district Services

Students whose parents reside in the district and whose children are registered in the district may require special education services to be provided outside of the district. The IEP team determines the need for such services. Only those students who qualify, and whose needs cannot be met within the range of programs in the district are eligible for district-supported schooling outside the district.

Related Services available in both district and out-of-district programs for students who qualify:

• OT
• PT
• Speech
• Behavior Support
• Assistive Technology
• Vision
• Orientation and Mobility
• Hearing

The types of support provided students with disabilities is determined by the IEP team, based upon the needs of the individual student, and the least restrictive setting in which the student is expected to receive meaningful educationalbenefit. The type or category of support will not be based upon the category or categories of the student’s disability alone.