Special Education Services
Classroom Placements for LRE . PreSchool Information . IEP Information
Section 504 . Resources and Support . Disabilities Served
Program Overview
Special Education is a specifically designed service to meet individual needs of children with disabilities. It is the belief of Habersham County School System that all students with disabilities have the right to be educated with their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate and to receive a high quality education. Through engaging work each student is allowed and encouraged to reach his/her maximum potential. The Special Education program is designed to meet the specific needs of students with disabilities aged 3 through 21. Services are designed to meet each individual's unique needs and prepare them for employment and independent living.
It is the belief that students with disabilities shall be provided with real and valid opportunities to learn through the use of specialized research-based instruction, supportive services, supplemental aids and supports, including ongoing training for teachers, in order to ensure that all students have an opportunity to learn and demonstrate what they know. If you suspect that your child may have a disability, please contact the Habersham County Schools Special Education Department.
The Special Education Department currently serves over 1000 students with 83 Teachers, 46 Paraprofessionals, 4 School Psychologists, 1 Diagnostician, 7 Speech Language Pathologists, 1 Physical Therapist, 1 Occupational Therapist, and 1 Interpretor of Deaf/Hard of Hearing.
Habersham County participates in Georgia's Continuous Improvement Monitoring Process (GCIMP), targeting performance goals for Students with Disabilities. Data is collected and analyzed throughout the year to measure progress towards meeting Georgia's Performance goals. A stakeholder committee, comprised of educators, parents, and community leaders utilizes the data to determine system strengths and weaknesses. Using this data, the local stakeholder committee develops or revises their Improvement Plan.
Habersham Schools' Special Education Department continues collaborative efforts with the Emory Autism Center. This collaboration enables multiple opportunities for engaging learning experiences in dealing with students with Autism. The department also participates with other counties in the regional area in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) initiative, promoted through Georgia State University. This initiative focuses on educating all students within the least restrictive environment to the maximum extent possible while incorporating a wide variety of support and training for all staff.
For more information please contact us at 706 754-2118 or email us at the addresses below.
Donna Dixon, Special Education Director ddixon@habersham.k12.ga.us
MaryKay Berry, Special Education Coordinator, Assistive Technologist mberry@habersham.k12.ga.us
Diane Lent, Special Education Coordinator, Autism Specialist dlent@habersham.k12.ga.us
