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The Department of Education provides special education and related services to children, age 3 to 20, who meet the eligibility requirements due to a disability that affects their educational success. Special Education is specially designed instruction to meet the unique learning needs of students who require Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Related services are transportation and developmental, corrective and supportive services that are required to assist a child with a disability in benefiting from special education. These related services include, but are not limited to speech-language therapy, audiology, psychological services, interpreting services, physical and occupational therapy, counseling services, orientation and mobility services, recreation and medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes. Related services also include school health services and school nurse services, social wrk services in the schools, and parent counseling and training. Services are at no cost to the parent and may be provided in a variety of settings based on the student's needs and are provided in keeping with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in Hawaii's local implementing law relating to special education--Chapter 60. Within the Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Student Support, two important offices provide supports to students with disabilities. The Special Education Section in the Curriculum and Instruction Branch ensures that the rights of students with disabilities and their parents are protected. This section also monitors, enforces and reports on the delivery of special education requirements under IDEA and Chapter 60. Their responsibilities include: 1) Developing procedures, standards and rules for special education; 2) Providing technical assistance and training to complex areas, districts, schools, agencies and parents to address IDEA and Chapter 60; and 3) Monitoriing the activities of schools and complex areas to ensure that they follow program standards and legal requirements. Another key office is the Comprehensive Student Support Section. This section provides supports that enhance a student's academic achievement by strengthening social, emotional and physical well-being of the student and their family. Responsibilities include: providing program direction and guidance for parent and family support services, early childhood intervention services, secondary school intervention services, school based behavioral health (SBBH) services, positive behavior support services and student health services; and working with complexes and schools to make sure that an array of supports are available. STATE OFFICES Special Education Services Branch
& Special Education Section Comprehensive Student Support Services Section Hawaii School for the Deaf
& the Blind Provides diagnostic and prescriptive services to all students with hearing and visual impairments, technical assistance to schools who are serving these students and a day or boarding program for select students as determined by their IEP. DISTRICT AND COMPLEX AREA OFFICES Direct support and supervision to schools is provided through 15 complex area offices which encompass Hawaii's 42 school complexes. (A complex is made up of a high school and he elementary and middles schools that feed students to the high school). Each complext are is served by a district educational specialist for special education/special services. The following is a list of important contact information of state and district support for special education: HONOLULU OFFICE CENTRAL OAHU OFFICE South Complex Area - Aiea, Moanalua and Radford
Complexes LEEWARD OAHU DISTRICT OFFICE Nanakuli, Pearl City and Waipahu
Complexes Kahuku and Castle Complexes HAWAII OFFICE Ka'u, Keaau and Pahoa Complexes North Hawaii Regional Office - Kohala and Honoka'a Complexes MAUI OFFICE Maui Complexes Molokai Annex (includes Molokai & Lanai Complexes) KAUAI OFFICE - East Kauai, Central Kauai and West
Kauai Complexes Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) Established under IDEA to advise the DOE regarding the education of all eligible children with disabilities. Parenst and persons with disabilities make up a majority of the membership. Meetings are held monthly except in June and July at 919 Ala Moana Boulevard and are open to the public. Call for more information. |