Related Services

The Special Education Department of Higley Unified School District provides services to children, ages 3 - 22 with disabilities.
Special Education means specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of a student with a disability. Services will be made available to meet the needs of all students with disabilities within the responsibility of the district who has been determined to be eligible and need special education and related services in order to benefit from their educational program. We have a continuum of service delivery models to meet your child's educational needs.

For copies of all SpED records, please call 480. 279. 7039, fax request 480. 279. 7502 or email Traci.Meyers@husd.org

For more information, please call 480. 279. 7059 or contact your child's school.

Special Education Categories for Services

Higley Unified School District provides programs and/or related services for students who are eligible under the 2004 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The areas of eligibility are:

Autism (A)
Developmental Delay (DD)
Emotional Disability (ED)
Hearing Impairment (HI)
Intellectual Disabilities (Mild or Moderate or Severe)
Multiple Disabilities (MD)
Multiple Disabilities with Severe Sensory Impairment (MDSSI)
Orthopedic Impairment (OI)
Other Health Impairment (OHI)
Preschool Severe Delay (PSD)
Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
Speech-Language Impairment (SLI)
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Vision Impairment (VI)

Related Services available for students with disabilities include: (list is not all inclusive)

Assistive Technology (AT)
Audiology Services
Counseling
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Orientation and Mobility (O & M)
Physical Therapy (PT)
Specialized Transportation

Pursuant to A.R.S. §41-1351 and the General Records Retention Schedule for School Districts and Charter Schools Student Records (#000-11-53) established by Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records (L.A.P.R.), Special Education Records (including placement records, referrals, evaluations, testing data and other related records) will be destroyed “four (4) years after fiscal year of final enrollment.”

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists are part of the education team within a school district. In the schools, occupational therapists use their expertise to assist students to be prepared for and perform important learning and school-related activities to fulfill their role as students.

Occupational therapists work with a variety of individuals in the school setting:

Students to support their performance in a variety of learning environments (i.e. classrooms, lunchrooms, restrooms, playgrounds);
Parents to support children’s learning and participation in school;
Staff to consult, plan and develop activities and environments that include all students in learning;
Para-educators to support student success and promote safety within the school environment;
Administrators to provide training for students, staff, and parents, as well as to recommend equipment for schools and ways to modify existing buildings and curriculum to allow access for all.

School-based occupational therapy services are available for students eligible for special education and are determined through the IEP process. Occupational therapists may provide assessments for eligibility for OT services and work with other members of the school’s IEP team to determine what is needed for a student to receive a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. They collaborate with other members of the education team to identify a student’s annual goals and determine the services, support, modifications, and accommodations that are required for the student to achieve these goals.

For more information, contact the Special Education department at the local school.

Speech Language Pathology

Speech Language Pathology is concerned with issues surrounding speech and language communication disorders. School-based clinicians typically work with the following types of communication disorders which interfere with a student’s ability to be successful in the general education classroom:

Articulation disorders or disorders which make it difficult for students to produce sounds in syllables or say words incorrectly to the point that other people can't understand what's being said.
Fluency disorders include problems such as stuttering, the condition in which the flow of speech is interrupted by abnormal stoppages, repetitions, or prolonging sounds and syllables.
Receptive and expressive language disorders. Receptive disorders refer to difficulties understanding or processing language. Expressive disorders include difficulty putting words together, limited vocabulary, or inability to use language in a socially appropriate way.

Depending on the nature and severity of the disorder, common treatments may include exercises, instructive or repetitive practice and drilling, the use of assistive technology aids, and introduction of strategies to facilitate functional communication. Speech language therapy may also include the use of picture symbols or Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices.

Acquisition of Speech Sounds:

/k/ age 3½ -4 or kindergarten
/g/ age 3½-4 or kindergarten
/l/ age 6-7 or 1st grade
ch age 7 or 2nd grade
sh age 7 or 2nd grade
j age 7 or 2nd grade
/r/ age 8 or 3rd grade
/s/ age 8 or 3rd grade
th age 8 or 3rd grade

Helpful Parent Links

School Psychologist

Who Are School Psychologists?

School psychologists help children meet challenges through their specialized training in psychology and education. They assist educators, parents, and other professionals to ensure that children learn in a safe, healthy and supportive setting. They understand childhood development, the elements of successful learning, effective teaching, and school systems. A school psychologist's training covers mental health, school organization, and child development, including learning, behavior, and motivation. School psychologists must be certified by the Arizona State Department of Education.

What Do School Psychologists Do?

School psychologists serve a variety of roles within the school district. Although what a specific school psychologist does depends on the school assignment, all of them engage in certain core services. School psychologists consult with parents, teachers, administrators and others to offer ways to understand and intervene to benefit students. They also assess a variety of aspects of children's development, including cognitive, learning, adaptive skills, emotional development, and social skills, using a wide variety of techniques. Psychologists may directly and/or indirectly assist all students through prevention activities targeted at campus-wide needs, such as safe and diverse schools.

For additional information, contact the school psychologist on your child's campus or call the HUSD district office at 480.279.7059.

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