ERC NEWSLETTER

Hello WCSD#1 Families!

I continue to be impressed at the level of care, support, and instruction that our teachers in WCSD #1 provide for our students. Our special education teachers are no exception. In fact, most of them spend their day meeting your child's needs in an effort to increase their ability to learn. These efforts include everything from helping with bathrooming all the way to attending job interviews with our students.

Some fun things that I have seen in special education classrooms this month have been talking to a student about their job at Bryant Funeral Home, giant pickles for a snack, making cookies for the staff, the creating of a very intricate model car, highly competitive games of Uno, and most importantly learning provided in spaces that meet the student's needs with high quality instruction that is specifically designed for each student. We are so very lucky to have such great teachers and if you happen to run into one of them in the community please tell them thank you for all that they do.

In an effort to be transparent about how WCSD #1 services your students and ask the question of how we can better serve not only your child but your family, I plan on meeting with as many families as I can. This month on October 21st at 7:00 pm in the Middle School Library I plan on inviting all of our parents with a student that has autism to meet with me for an informative session on the services offered that may help your student. In addition I would also appreciate feedback on the following questions:

What would you like to know more about?

What do you feel needs adjusted?

What things are we doing that you like and appreciate?

Hope I will see you there!

Ryan R. Clark<><<

Special Education Director

Washakie County School District #1

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It affects children in two big ways. First, it can make it harder for them to communicate and socialize with others. Second, it causes kids to have, to varying degrees, repetitive behaviors, limited interests, inflexibility, and unusual sensory processing. Children who have autism are born with it. Symptoms can appear as early as at 6 to 18 months, in aspects of social communication. For others it may be noticeable between 12 months and 3 years. But for some it’s not noticed until preschool age, when they start to have trouble interacting with other children.

Many children with autism show symptoms before they are two years old. Some children, at around age 1 or 2, plateau in development of social skills, and it can look like they are regressing. Autism looks different in each child. Not every child shows every symptom, and some have more severe symptoms.

Symptoms of ASD are grouped into two categories — social communication/social interaction and repetitive behaviors. Both must be present for an autism diagnosis by a medical professional.

Under IDEA, via the school psychologist and IEP team, an autism eligibility can be met when 4 of the bullet points below can be answer YES:

• Impaired Communication: unable to use expressive and receptive language for social communication in a developmentally appropriate manner, lacks nonverbal communication skills or uses abnormal form or content when speaking, and is unable to initiate or sustain conversation with others.
• Inappropriate Relationships: exhibits deficits relating to people, demonstrates a marked lack of awareness of others feelings, demonstrates abnormal seeking of comfort at times of distress, exhibits absent or abnormal social play, demonstrates an inability to make friends, and does not relate to or use objects in an age appropriate or functional manner.
• Abnormal Sensory Processing: the child exhibits unusual, repetitive, nonmeaningful responses to: auditory, olfactory, tactile, visual, taste, and kinesthetic stimuli.
• Impaired Cognitive Development: the child has difficulty with concrete versus abstract thinking or impaired ability to process symbolic information.
• Abnormal range of activities: the child shows a restricted repertoire of activities, interests, and imaginative development evident through stereotyped body movements, a persistent preoccupation with parts of objects, distress over trivial changes in the environment, unreasonable insistence on routines, a restricted range of interests, and a preoccupation with one narrow interest.

Autism is a lifelong condition, but specific programs and therapy can help children develop critical skills that will have a significant impact on their quality of life. Many therapies can be found to be very helpful both inside and outside of school.

• Occupational Therapy: OT teaches children the skills they need to perform the activities of daily living, including fine motor skills like buttoning buttons and using writing implements. They also help kids learning how to manage sensitivity to light, sound, and touch (sensory processing skills) and develop appropriate accommodations.
• Physical Therapy: PT addresses challenges with children who have ASD, such as poor posture, low muscle tone, balance issues, coordination difficulties, by using structured exercises and play to improve gross motor skills, functional mobility, body awareness, and coordination.
• Speech Therapy: Some children may also need help with their speech, from the development of language to pragmatic speech, or use of language in social situations.
• Visual Schedules: To provide a clear and predictable structure for the day to reduce anxiety and confusion. Visual ques are also used to communicate upcoming activities and helps with independence and empowerment.
• AAC Device: This is a tool or method that helps individuals with speech or language impairments communicate. This is their voice!

https://starautismsupport.com/event/supporting-specials-pe-art-and-music-all

***Interested in attending this event?? Call the ERC for more details on how we can help you attend this important parent/family engagement activity!***

Our Special Education Department strives to provide a continuum of comprehensive educational services for all students with disabilities. Academic, as well as functional skills are an important part of each student’s education program. Each student is an individual with unique needs which are taken into consideration as the student’s program is developed by a knowledgeable and caring team. The program for a student may include but is not limited to: academics, adaptive PE, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech/language therapy, behavior interventions, and counseling.

Child Find is an important activity for our school district. If you are aware of a child who may have a disability and is not receiving educational services please notify us at the ERC.

For further information regarding special education services in Washakie County School District #1, please call the Special Education Department at 307-347-2435.

We are happy to answer any questions you may have.

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Email: rclark@washakie1.com
Website: https://erc.wsh1.k12.wy.us/
Location: 201 North 15th Street, Worland, WY, USA
Phone: 307-347-2435