Contact: Dr. Melissa Holler, Supervisor of Pupil Services
Phone: 724-274-5300, option 3, option 5
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Welcome to the Allegheny Valley School District Special Education Department
The Allegheny Valley School District provides a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities in accordance with federal and state regulations. Children age 3-21 must be eligible for special education services, meeting the eligibility criteria of having a disability as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and being in need of specially designed instruction. Pennsylvania State Standards in Chapter 14 of the Pennsylvania School Code identify the following as areas of disability: Autism, Deaf/Blindness, Visual Impairment including Blindness, Hearing Impairment including Deafness, Mental Retardation, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Emotional Disturbance, Specific Learning Disability, Other Health Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Speech & Language Impairment.
Allegheny Valley School District protects the confidentiality of personally identifiable information regarding exceptional and protected handicapped students in accordance with state and federal law and the District's student records policy.
The Special Education Process includes the development of an Evaluation Report (ER) and an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The IEP team determines the level and location of special education services. All students in need of special education services are provided services through district, intermediate unit, private, and approved private school programs.
The Allegheny County Family Resource Guide
This site provides a compilation of services, systems, and resources, especially for families of children birth to 21 with developmental delays, special health care needs or disabilities. This online resource provides:
- A comprehensive guide to medical, therapeutic, educational, and family support services.
- Parent-friendly information to help you find the services your child needs.
- Help to navigate the “systems” that serve your child.
- Top 10 questions families ask about special needs supports including Medicaid (Medical Assistance), waiver, wraparound, transportation, disability laws, home health care, parent support, therapies, funding resources, and social security.
Secondary Transition:
As provided by 22 Pa. Code §14.131 and 34 CFR §300.320, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team must begin transition planning for each student who is 14 years of age or older. Transition services must be a component described as part of the IEP. Pursuant to 34 CFR §300.43(2), transition services are based on the individual child’s needs, taking into account the child’s strengths, preferences, and interests, and include: instruction, related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives, and if appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills, and provision of a functional vocational evaluation.
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Online Resources:
Allegheny County Human Services - Find information about mental health (MH), drug and alcohol (D&A), intellectual disability (ID), Justice Related Services (JRS), and others.
Office of Developmental Programs (ODP)- The mission of the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is to support Pennsylvanians with developmental disabilities and their families to achieve greater independence, choice, and opportunity in their lives. This resource center is the home for ODP’s training, communications, and informational resources. For information on regulations, ODP Bulletins, licensing, and the Department of Human Services, visit the website.PA Secondary Transition Guide for Parents and Students- This website, which is continually updated, provides youth, young adults, parents, and professionals with secondary transition resources to facilitate a young person’s progress toward post-secondary goals related to education, employment, and community living.
PATTAN: What is Secondary Transition- Secondary Transition is the process students go through as they bridge the gap from high school to beyond school-age years. The Secondary Transition process helps students and their families plan for an appropriate and realistic life after high school in a coordinated way.
Voter Registration Information- In Pennsylvania, as in most other states, you must register before you can vote. The laws establish certain qualifications for voting (for example, you must be at least 18 on the day of the next election, and you must reside in the district where you vote), and registration ensures that only qualified persons are allowed to vote.
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ACCESS Transportation- (412) 562-5353
ACHIEVA Family Trust
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Parent Resource and Information:
PATTAN Information for Families
Pennsylvania Department of Education Special Ed Consult Line- In Pennsylvania: 1-800-879-2301 (Toll-Free)
Council for Exceptional Children