Special Education Publications and Other Resources

Publications

• A Guide to Assessment in Early Childhood: Infancy to Age Eight (PDF) Color Version (zip - 27 mgs)
• Best Practices Guide to Intervention: Teaching Students with Severe Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (PDF)
• Directory: Special Education and Institutional Directory 2011-12 (PDF)
• Dispute Resolution Mechanisms: Information About Dispute Resolution Mechanisms for Special Education Students: Mediation, Citizen Complaints, and Due Process (PDF)
• The Educational Aspects of Autism Spectrum Disorders (PDF)
• Educational Interpreter Recommendations (PDF)
• Evaluation of Services for Improving Outcomes for Students with Sensory Disabilities in Washington State (PDF)
• Identification of Students with Specific Learning Disabilities - State of Washington Severe Discrepancy Tables (PDF) Updated December 2011, age range on school age DAS-II corrected (page 18) and SLD FAQ Document (PDF)

Disputes
This legal assistance list is intended to comply with Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 392-172A-05080(3)(a). This list is not a recommendation or endorsement for any particular service provider.
     Legal Assistance List for Special Education Disputes (PDF)

Interagency Agreements
Interagency Agreements between OSPI and other state agencies

• DSHS – Agency Agreement (PDF)
• DSHS Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery - Program Agreement (PDF)
• DSHS, DVR, and DSB - Program Agreement (PDF)
• DSHS, DEL, DOH, DSB “Early Support for Infants and Toddlers Program” - Program Agreement (PDF)

Medication Administration
Training intended to provide paraeducators with a general overview for administering oral medications to students.

• Orientation Level Training for School Employees Who Administer Oral Medications to Students (PDF)
  • Appendix A (PDF)
  • Appendix B (PDF)

National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) and
National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC)
Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM)

• AIM Web page (PDF)
• Textbook Conversion Resources (PDF)
• Text Alternatives (PDF)

Implementation Information

• FAQ – NIMAS/NIMAC (Word)
• NIMAS/NIMAC Acronyms (PDF)
• Washington NIMAS/NIMAC Flowchart (PDF)
• Procedures Matrix (PDF)

State Resources

• Braille Access Center/Instructional Resource Center Web site
• Special Education Technology Center
• Washington Assistive Technology Act Program
• Department of Services for the Blind

National Resources

• NICHCY NIMAS Training Curriculum
• NIMAC Web site
• American Foundation for the Blind Web site
• NIMAS at CAST Web site

Non-Public Agency Information
If a student’s special education needs cannot be met within a given district, the district may contract with an approved Non-Public Agency (NPA) for special education and related services as the least restrictive environment for that student as established through the Individual Education Program process.

• NPA Application (PDF)
• Current Non-Public Agency List - Agencies within the State of WA (PDF)
• Current Non-Public Agency List - Agencies outside the State of WA (PDF)

Paraeducator Core Competencies
WAC 392-172A-02090 (f) Personnel qualifications requires that districts have procedures that ensure that classified staff receive training to meet state recommended core competencies.

• Washington State Core Competencies for Paraeducators (PDF)

Procedural Safeguards

• English (Word) -- Straight text to edit into your customized safeguards. Also available in Braille
  • Booklet (Word)
• Cambodian (PDF)
• Korean (PDF)
• Russian (PDF)
• Somali (PDF)
• Spanish (PDF)
• Ukrainian (PDF)
• Vietnamese (PDF)

Response to Intervention (RTI)
RTI is a multi-level prevention system to maximize student achievement and to reduce behavior problems.

• Using Response to Intervention (RTI) for Washington’s Students
• Successful Assistance in the Classroom: A Teacher's Guide to Working with Paraeducators (PDF)

Technical Assistance Papers (TAPS)
Help to districts and others who are new to special education or would like technical assistance in special education issues.

• TAP #5: Questions and Answers about Initial Evaluations and Reevaluations (PDF)
• TAP #4: Information Regarding How the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Affects School Districts When Requesting Medical Records (PDF)
• TAP #2: Discipline Requirements for Students Who Receive Special Education Services (PDF)
• TAP #1: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: A Review of the Basics (PDF)

Teletherapy
The 2009-2010 pilot program provided special education and/or related services to students with disabilities ages three (3) through twenty-one (21). The objective was to provide speech-language and occupational therapy services via point-to-point teletherapy technologies in pilot public school districts that had been struggling to implement the services identified on special education student's Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

• Teletherapy Pilot Project (PDF)
• Video in English or Video in Spanish

Informational Special Education Publications
Useful publications from other organizations.

• Forum Guide to the Privacy of Student Information: A Resource for Schools
• Governor Gregoire’s Caring for Washington Individuals with Autism Washington State Task Force Manual
• JLARC Report of Recommendation on Children's Mental Health (PDF)
• Mediation in Special Education (PDF)
• Records Retention Schedule - Office of Secretary of State (PDF)