Cooperative Link: Fall 2007

Special Education Services
By Patty Yahnke and Loree Brown

Special Education services at South Central Service Cooperative include the Regional Project for Low Incidence. We also offer a Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) and a lending library, making available books, articles, videotapes, adaptive equipment, and assistive technology devices.

Low Incidence refers to a disability that occurs rarely or in low numbers. There are eight disabilities categorized as low incidence:

The Region 9 Low Incidence (LI) Project is intended to address identified gaps and needs in special education programs and related services for students with any of the disabilities listed above.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires a licensed person in the area of the student’s disability to be on that student’s Individual Education Program (IEP) team. The Region 9 LI Project can fulfill this requirement by supplying a licensed consultant/specialist for a district’s team that is void in fulfilling this requirement except for MSMI at this time.

In categories of OHD and TBI, a licensed special education teacher who has been trained in those areas can serve as the licensed staff.

How is it funded? Because providing equitable services to learners with low incidence disabilities has been difficult for districts, the Minnesota Department of Education in 1980 initiated Regional Low Incidence Service Planning Grants for increasing the availability of indirect services and supplementing local efforts and programming for these learners. The South Central Service Cooperative (SCSC) provides this service to member districts of Region 9 throughout the project grant. It is managed by Regional Low Incidence Facilitator (RLIF), Linda Watson.

Autism Spectrum Disorders are a lifelong developmental disability, resulting from a neurologically-based disorder. It affects the way a child communicates, interacts with other people, and perceives and interacts to the world. The characteristic behaviors of autism may or may not be apparent in infancy but usually become obvious between 18–24 months. Patterns of behavior that are characteristic of autism spectrum disorders include impairment of reciprocal social interactions, impaired communication skills, and restricted range of interests or repetitive behaviors. Not all children with autism spectrum disorders behave in the same way. Symptoms of autism spectrum disorders can occur in any combination and with varying degrees of severity; according to the latest figures it affects 1 in 150 children and is more common in boys than in girls. Autism Spectrum Disorders affects individuals in every country and region of the world and knows no racial, ethnic, or economic boundaries.

Educationally it is referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorders. It is also called Autism, Asperger’s, High Functioning Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). Rett’s Disorder and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder are also related.

Each director unit has an Autism Resource Specialist. Call the specialist serving your district if need help or have questions.

In the area of Autism, there is a parent support group that meets every third Thursday of the month at Perkins Restaurant, 1790 Madison Avenue, Mankato. The group welcomes parents who have fresh ideas, offer support for each other, and share upcoming events and conferences. If you would like more information about the parent support group, please call Linda Wilson at 507-257-3207 or 507-345-7415 or email LovelyLindaW@juno.com.





SCSC News Calendar of Events *Programs and Services* Accounting Briefs / AYP-Student Improvement / News from the Center for Academic Excellence / Cooperative Purchasing / Health and Safety / Professional Development-Educational Opportunties / Special Education / Wellness Program *Student Enrichment Programs* Chess Tournament / Fine Arts Conference / Knowledge Bowl / Science and Nature Conference / "Water is Life" Art Contest / Young Writer's Conference Fall 2007 Issue Home Page Previous Issues of Cooperative Link Return to SCSC Home Page	SPECIAL EDUCATION Special Education Services By Patty Yahnke and Loree Brown Special Education services at South Central Service Cooperative include the Regional Project for Low Incidence. We also offer a Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) and a lending library, making available books, articles, videotapes, adaptive equipment, and assistive technology devices. Low Incidence refers to a disability that occurs rarely or in low numbers. There are eight disabilities categorized as low incidence: Autism Blind/Visual Impairments (B/VI) DeafBlind (DB) Deaf/Hard of Hearing/Audiology (D/HH) Developmental Cognitive Disabilities/Moderate to Severe Mental Impairments Other Health Disabilities (OHD) Physical Health Disabilities (PHD) Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) The Region 9 Low Incidence (LI) Project is intended to address identified gaps and needs in special education programs and related services for students with any of the disabilities listed above. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires a licensed person in the area of the student’s disability to be on that student’s Individual Education Program (IEP) team. The Region 9 LI Project can fulfill this requirement by supplying a licensed consultant/specialist for a district’s team that is void in fulfilling this requirement except for MSMI at this time. In categories of OHD and TBI, a licensed special education teacher who has been trained in those areas can serve as the licensed staff. How is it funded? Because providing equitable services to learners with low incidence disabilities has been difficult for districts, the Minnesota Department of Education in 1980 initiated Regional Low Incidence Service Planning Grants for increasing the availability of indirect services and supplementing local efforts and programming for these learners. The South Central Service Cooperative (SCSC) provides this service to member districts of Region 9 throughout the project grant. It is managed by Regional Low Incidence Facilitator (RLIF), Linda Watson. Autism Spectrum Disorders are a lifelong developmental disability, resulting from a neurologically-based disorder. It affects the way a child communicates, interacts with other people, and perceives and interacts to the world. The characteristic behaviors of autism may or may not be apparent in infancy but usually become obvious between 18–24 months. Patterns of behavior that are characteristic of autism spectrum disorders include impairment of reciprocal social interactions, impaired communication skills, and restricted range of interests or repetitive behaviors. Not all children with autism spectrum disorders behave in the same way. Symptoms of autism spectrum disorders can occur in any combination and with varying degrees of severity; according to the latest figures it affects 1 in 150 children and is more common in boys than in girls. Autism Spectrum Disorders affects individuals in every country and region of the world and knows no racial, ethnic, or economic boundaries. Educationally it is referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorders. It is also called Autism, Asperger’s, High Functioning Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). Rett’s Disorder and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder are also related. Each director unit has an Autism Resource Specialist. Call the specialist serving your district if need help or have questions. Mankato Public Schools–Dist. #77 Robin Boeke 507-345-3015 x266 rboeke1@isd77.k12.mn.us River Bend Education District Mary Olson 507-359-8726 molson@riverbend.k12.mn.us MN Valley Education District Patty Yahnke 507-934-5420 x315 pyahnke@stpeterschools.org Southern Plains Special Ed Coop. Rae Dierks 507-526-3090 x278 rdierks@blueearth.k12.mn.us Waseca Area Schools Tracy Helms 507-835-3000 helt@waseca.k12.mn.us Southern MN Special Services Linda Watson 507-389-2123 lwatson@mnscsc.org In the area of Autism, there is a parent support group that meets every third Thursday of the month at Perkins Restaurant, 1790 Madison Avenue, Mankato. The group welcomes parents who have fresh ideas, offer support for each other, and share upcoming events and conferences. If you would like more information about the parent support group, please call Linda Wilson at 507-257-3207 or 507-345-7415 or email LovelyLindaW@juno.com. > Next Special Education Article: State Autism Network	This newsletter is also available as an Acrobat PDF (2.0 MB) Free Acrobat Reader required for viewing.