Special Education

The Avon Local School District serves students with special needs from age 3 through 21 as required by Federal law. Preschoolers are served in our Soaring Little Eagles Program, which is housed at Avon Village Elementary School and is part of the early learning consortium of the Lorain County Educational Service Center.

Students are served in the least restrictive environment possible, and they are included in the regular classroom with their typical peers when that arrangement will meet their educational needs.

An Individual Education Plan is developed for each special needs student. Parents meet with appropriate Avon Local Schools staff to determine annual educational goals and and educational plan, including necessary accommodations and services. Services can include speech and language services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, behavior modification, special instruction through intervention specialists and paraprofessionals, adaptive physical education and other specialized services designed to insure that each child's educational needs are met.

Child Find - Search for Children with Disabilities

In accordance with the Individual's with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the American with Disabilities Act Amendment 2008, the Avon Local School District is participating in Child Find efforts to locate, evaluate and identify all children with a disabillity.

the Avon Local Schools is participating in Child Find efforts to locate, evaluate, and identify all children from birth through 21 years of age with disabilities, regardless of their situations, who have significant, individual needs and require interventions through special education and related services.

A disability, in this instance, means a child who has a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits a major life activity who may because of the disability, needs or is believed to need special education, related services, aids and/or accomodations/modifications. Examples may include but are not limited to the following: autism, blindness/visual impairment, deafness/hearing impairment, orthopedic impairment, specific learning disabilities, emotional disturbance, cognitive disabilities, speech and language impairments, and other health impairments.

If you suspect your child or you suspect a child in the community with a disability that may be unidentified, that is not presently attending school or receiving services from another agency, please contact Mrs. Deb Dennis, Director of Special Education at 440-934-4246.

Compliance

In addition, the Avon Local School District has dedicated itself to provide equal admission opportunities, equal educational opportunities, and equal employment opportunities to all people regardless of disability. To this end, the Board of Education has adopted regulations, which establish procedures for the orderly settlement of complaints filed with the District alleging discrimination of the basis of disability. A copy of the complete regulations may be obtained through the office of Special Education. If you would like additional information regarding Federal regulations, please contact the United States Department of Education's website at www.ed.gov.

The Superintendent has designated Mrs. Deb Dennis, Special Education Director as the District's Compliance Officer. If you feel there is a violation pleace contact her at 440-934-4246.