Special Education Services

At Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES we believe students with special needs deserve every opportunity to be the best they can be. That is why our comprehensive special education programs are designed to address individual challenges and why the staff is made up of competent professionals. We also believe that teamwork is essential to meeting students' needs.
By sharing our skills and ideas, we strengthen the curriculum, strategies and assessments, helping over 500 students a year increase their social, academic, emotional, creative and physical skills. We provide opportunities for achievement in meeting New York State Learning Standards.

Most of our programs also provide students with opportunities to work at local community businesses, in order to gain valuable work experience. They come to our programs from 25 school districts in Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, and Yates counties and they come with a wide range of disabilities.

Clinical and Program Support Services

Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology

Overview

Assistive Technology Provides:

  • Effective methods for students with special needs to access the curriculum.
  • Resources to enable student participation with peers in school-related activities.
  • Support in achieving educational goals, independence, self-esteem and quality of life

Areas of Need Addressed by Assistive Technology:

  • Physical
  • Communication
  • Sensory
  • Academic
  • Recreation/leisure
  • Vocational
  • Self-help

A.S.I.S.T. Services Include:

  • Individualized AT consultations for students, staff and families
    • Technology training
    • Technology implementation
    • Follow-up
      AT evaluations for students
  • Recommendations for assistive technologies
  • Short-term loans of assistive technologies
  • Assistance with technology acquisition
  • AT Workshops
    • Regional Support Center
    • W-FL BOCES Sites and Component Districts

Referral Information

  • Referral is the process for requesting that an assistive technology evaluation be conducted by members of the A.S.I.S.T. team.
    • A referral is completed when any of the following determinations have been made:
      • The student cannot independently perform a task within her/his curriculum.
      • Accommodations, modifications or assistive technology currently in place are not effective.
      • Decisions about the assistive technology needs are beyond the scope of knowledge of the IEP team.

AT Consultants

Eileen Frum, ATP, OTR
eileen.frum@wflboces.org

Mary Perkins, ATP, OTR
mary.perkins@wflboces.org

Dawn Rittenhouse, TSHH
dawn.rittenhouse@wflboces.org

Lauren Dentinger, MACCC-SLP/L
lauren.dentinger@wflboces.org

Resources

Resources

Videos

A.S.I.S.T. YouTube Training Videos

http://tinyurl.com/WFL-AT


Autistic Diagnostic Observations (ADOS)

The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) is a semi-structured, standardized assessment of communication and social interaction skills of individuals from 3 to 21 years of age. The standard activities of this assessment allow for observation of behaviors that have been identified as important in the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Clinical Support Services

Clinical Support Services (CSS) is a unique service which provides individualized diagnostic evaluations and consultations by a variety of medical and educational professionals including, but not limited to:

  • Pediatric Neuro-developmental
  • Psychiatric
  • Psychological
  • Educational
  • Central Auditory Processing/Audiological
  • Speech and Language
  • Vocational Assessments
  • Assistive Technology
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) resources

For more information on Clinical Support Services please contact Mary Fabrizio at (315) 332-7533 or mfabrizio@wflboces.org

Medicaid Resources

OT/PT Resources

Physical and occupational therapists provide direct therapy, consultation,evaluation and screening. Direct service consists of individual or group sessions with a frequency determined by the C.S.E. A prescription by a physician is required. Therapists also collaborate with classroom teachers, other staff members, parents and each other to design activities that can be implemented in the classroom and at home.

Physical Therapy Services include activities that address:

  • Mobility
  • Transitional movements
  • Posture

Occupational Therapy Services include activities that address:

  • Activities of Daily Living
    • Feeding and eating skills
    • Dressing skills
    • Hygiene skills
    • Domestic living skills
  • Educational and Work Activities
    • Fine motor/visual motor
    • Functional communication; handwriting, computer use
    • Positioning
    • Pre-vocational tasks
    • Socialization skills
    • Play and Leisure Activities

Occupational and physical therapists provide services that includes improving, developing or restoring functions impaired or lost through illness, injury, or deprivation improving ability to perform tasks for independent functioning if functions are impaired or lost and preventing through early intervention further impairment or loss of function.

Occupational therapists focus on fine motor skills, self help and adaptive skills. Physical therapists focus on gross motor skills and mobility. Occupational therapy may be needed for example to acquire appropriate eating utensils for a child or teach classroom personnel how to use the equipment or to teach classroom staff how to adjust a lap board for a student who uses the lap board for writing activities. Physical therapy may be needed for example to teach transfers from a wheelchair to a chair or restroom facilities.

Our Mission:
...to provide the very best tools, information and, educational support for students and families.

For more information, contact Molly Ellis at Mellis@wflboces.org or 315-332-7315

Vision Resources