Department of Special Services
380 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770
U.S.A.
Ph: (203)
720-5265 Fax: (203) 720-5276
Programs and Services
Preschool Developmental Program -Pre-school
programs for children three to five years of age serve children who have
handicaps with language, cognition, visual motor abilities, and some who
have emotional difficulties. Services also include monitoring the progress
of students in settings other than the public school program.
Special Education Resource Program - The Special
Education Resource Program is designed to provide academic support to students
in grades K-12 who have special education needs. Due to identified learning
disabilities, emotional needs, or other identified disabilities, these
students require support in one or more academic areas in order to be successful
in the regular classroom. In addition to academic support, students learn
about their individual strengths and weaknesses in the learning process.
Support from the Special Education Resource Teacher
can be provided in a number of ways. The traditional "pull-out" system
is used when deemed appropriate for one-to-one or small group instruction
of specific skills. This can also be provided within the regular classroom,
as part of a student's regular class work. An additional option for providing
support to identified students is team teaching between the Regular Classroom
Teacher and the Special Education Resource Teacher. In this manner, the
teachers are able to plan lessons together and to make adjustments to the
presentation of material and/or assignments and tests as necessary for
specific learning styles. All of these options are referred to as direct
service options.
Another very important aspect of the Special Education
Resource Program is consultation. Whichever mode of direct service is chosen
for an individual student, the consultation between the Regular Classroom
Teacher and the Special Education Resource Teacher is crucial to that student's
ultimate success. It is important to note that depending on the individual
student's needs, the options described above may be delivered in any variety
of combinations.
Pre-vocational Classes - Pre-vocational Classes
are designed to provide programs for students with a diagnosis of intellectual
disability or multi-handicapping conditions. These students are provided
functional academic education, communication, self-help, social, emotional,
fine and gross motor, and pre-vocational/vocational programs to help them
develop their skills in all these areas. Students may be included in regular
homeroom activities and other regular classes as deemed appropriate for
the individual student by the PPT.
Learning and Adjustment Programs - Students
with emotional handicaps are served in these classes. Small class size,
highly structured classroom environment, and appropriate behavior management
programs are maintained. Students in these programs often have learning
problems accompanying their emotional handicaps.
Speech and Language Services - Students whose
speech skills are significantly delayed in language, articulation, fluency
and/or voice in a manner which impairs their educational process, are included
in our speech programs. Speech services are available from birth through
high school graduation or age twenty-one. Instruction may occur individually,
in small groups, or as part of a classroom setting. Consultation and monitoring
are also part of the service.
School
Social Work Services - The School Social Worker is a resource person
whose primary responsibility is to help students reduce social and emotional
problems so that they may achieve reasonable academic success and develop
rewarding personal relationships. School social work may involve working
with pupils individually, in small groups, or through methods, which involve
a total classroom population. The school social worker promotes effective
communication among the home, the community, and the school and serves
as an advocate for the student.
School
Psychologist - The school psychologist is a resource person whose expertise
lies in learning and development theory as well as in intellectual and
personality assessment. Assuming the role of consultant to administrators,
teachers, parents, and/or students, the school psychologist facilitates
the maximum intellectual, social, and emotional growth of each pupil in
the schools.
Occupational
and Physical Therapy - Some of our students require physical and/or
occupational therapy services to enable them to benefit from their special
education program. These therapies are provided by fully trained and licensed
Physical and/or Occupational Therapists. Before physical therapy services
are implemented, a medical prescription is provided by the student's physician.
Skills
for Life Program - Housed at Naugatuck High School the Skills for Life
Program is designed to work with students possessing multiple handicapping
conditions. A low teacher/student ratio allows for maximum attention to
physical, educational, and social/emotional needs.
Middle
School Transitional Program - The Transitional Program provides a small
group individualized program in English, mathematics, science, social studies,
and reading taught by certified special education teachers. The program
focuses on the development of academic and social skills.
High
School Resource Lab - The Resource Lab Program is designed to meet
the needs of high school students who have been identified as special needs
students. These students will be channeled into inclusive educational programs
of study with modifications as deemed necessary by the PPT process. Support
for inclusive classes will be provided in the resource lab on a daily basis.
It will include one-to-one and small group instruction. Monitoring of these
programs will be done on a regular basis with all teachers involved. Job
training can and will be incorporated into these programs as needed.
High School
Transitional program - The Transitional Program provides a learning
environment limited in size per instructional period. Classes in the four
major academic areas (general math/algebra, science, English, world geography/US
history) provide an individualized program taught by teachers trained in
special education. A structured student-centered atmosphere prevails to
enhance feelings of self-esteem.
Revised 01/2002