Mr. Doug Wilson
School Psychologist

Ms. Aggie Derico
School Psychologist

Mrs. Dyan Evatt
Placement Coordinator

Mrs. Suzy Walton
Academic Evaluator

Mrs. April Paschal
Secretary

Special Education Programs and Categories:
All special education students are evaluated and through the eligibility process are determined to meet state eligibility criteria for program. Areas of eligibility are: intellectual disabilities, specific learning disability, hearing impairment (including deafness), speech or language impairment, visual impairment (including blindness), emotional disturbance, orthopedic impairment, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairment, significant developmental delay and deaf-blindness. Related service categories are occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, audiology, educational interpreter, medical services, orientation and mobility, parent counseling and training, psychological services, recreation, rehabilitation counseling, social work services in schools, school health services, and transportation.

Georgia Performance Goals for Students with Disabilities:
1. Improve post-school outcomes for students with disabilities

2. Improve services for young children (ages 3-5) with disabilities

3. Improve the provision of a free and appropriate public education to students with disabilities

4. Improve compliance with state and federal laws and regulations

The following services are the responsibilities of the Student Services Department:

Evaluations
A comprehensive evaluation, including psychological testing and clinical assessment, is required for diagnosis and a special education program planning. Psychoeducational evaluation is conducted when students are referred for learning or behavioral problems.

Speech evaluations are conducted when students are referred by the SST or Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) committee for articulation, fluency, voice, oral motor, and/or language development problems. A comprehensive evaluation is performed by a certified or licensed speech and language pathologist for consideration of speech eligibility.

Child Find
The Student Services Office works with Georgia Learning and Resource Services (GLRS) to locate students with disabilities and offer appropriate services. The office also works closely with private schools and home schools in our attendance district to identify students with disabilities.

Student Support Team
The Student Support Team process was designed to provide support to the student and teacher through a collaborative approach. It is based on the premise that “two heads are better than one” when developing plans for students who are having difficulty in school. When approached in a positive manner, the SST can be a valuable tool in providing for an effective educational program for students.

Section 504
Section 504 is a civil rights law, and must be applied within the public school setting. Congress envisioned a statute that would protect broadly against educational discrimination in the classroom. Educational services that are included are extracurricular activities, nonacademic services, facilities and academic awards.