Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause impairment in social interaction, verbal or nonverbal language skills used for social communication and restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. Students with an ASD may receive services through Exceptional Student Education in a variety of settings as the full continuum of services is available.

Resources

• Autism Society of America
• Autism Speaks
• Center for Autism & Related Disabilities at USF
• Best Buddies
• eLearning for Students with Disabilities instructed through Access Points

Contacts

Glenda Koshy
Supervisor, Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) and Intellectual Disabilities(InD) Programs
(813) 273-7288
Glenda.Koshy@hcps.net

The Deaf/Hard of Hearing Program provides services to students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing with a hearing loss that is aided or unaided, that impacts the processing of linguistic information and which adversely affects performance in the educational environment. Services are proved by fully certified Teachers of the Deaf in a variety of settings from parent-infant, self-contained classrooms (total communication or oral) to inclusion with resource supports.

Resources

• Florida Department of Education - Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing (DHH)
• Scholarships & Resources for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Contacts

Michelle Henry
Coordinator, Deaf and Hard of Hearing
(813) 837-7840
Michelle.Henry@hcps.net

Kristin Procopio
Coordinator, Sign Language Interpreters
(813) 837-7840
Kristin.Procopio@hcps.net

Dual-sensory impairment (deaf-blindness) is defined as impairment affecting both vision and hearing, the combination of which causes a serious impairment in the abilities to acquire information, communicate, or function within the environment, or a degenerative condition which will lead to such an impairment. Special education services are provided in a variety of educational settings including consultative support, itinerant resource support, resource rooms, and self-contained classes in accordance with individual education plans, or individual family support plans. Orientation and mobility instruction is provided both on campus and in the community and is provided by certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists. The Deaf-Blind Program works cooperatively with the Florida Division of Blind Services Tampa District office and the Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind to ensure a seamless service delivery system to children and families in Hillsborough County.

Resources

• Florida and Virgin Islands Deaf-Blind Collaborative - The FAVI Deaf-Blind Collaborative serves the entire state of Florida providing training and consultation services to the families and educational teams of Florida’s children and young adults (ages 0-22) with concurrent hearing loss and vision loss.
• Florida Deaf-Blind Association - Florida Deaf-Blind Association, Inc. (FDBA) Created in 2004 by, for and of Deaf Blind Floridians in Daytona Beach to provide resources and reduce isolation of the Deaf Blind community. Members consist of Deaf Blind Floridians and others who are supportive. Officers on the board are Deaf Blind and live throughout the state.
• Florida Division of Blind Services - The Florida Division of Blind Services helps blind and visually impaired individuals achieve their goals and live their lives with as much independence and self-direction as possible.
• Helen Keller National Center - The Center provides services to youth and adults who are deaf-blind according to the definition of deaf-blindness in the Helen Keller Act.
• Orientation and Mobility (O&M) - Specialized travel skills for students with visual impairment to know where they are, where they want to be and how they are going to get there.

Contacts

Amanda Lawyer 
Coordinator, Deaf-Blind Programs
(813) 837-7840
Amanda.Lawyer@hcps.net

The Behavior Supports program may serve individuals that require intensive behavioral interventions and supports. Students may receive behavioral interventions and supports such as a classroom behavior management system, instruction through social skills curriculum, individual behavior contract, individual positive behavior intervention plan, counseling as a related service, and/or point level system.

Individuals that require more intensive behavior interventions and supports may receive services in a variety of settings as the full continuum of services is available through classrooms at the elementary and secondary levels as well as at exceptional centers.

A student with an emotional/behavioral disability has persistent (is not sufficiently responsive to implemented evidence based interventions) and consistent emotional or behavioral responses that adversely affect performance in the educational environment that cannot be attributed to age, culture, gender, or ethnicity. The corresponding definition is found in State Board of Education Rule 6A-6.03016, F.A.C.

Students with an emotional/behavioral disability may receive behavioral interventions such as a classroom behavior management system, instruction through social skills curriculum, individual behavior contract, individual positive behavior intervention plan, counseling as a related service, and/or point level system.

Resources

• Everyday Parenting: The ABCs of Child Rearing
  Free online Parent Management Course by Dr Kazdin from Yale Parenting Center & Child Conduct Clinic. Online videos and reading for ABC's of Everyday Parenting.
• State and Local Resources
• Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) and Positive Behavior Intervention Plans (PBIP)
• Information regarding additional resources available can be provided by the social worker at each school.

Contacts

Glenda Koshy
Supervisor
(813) 273-7288
Glenda.Koshy@hcps.net

More information about Hospital/Homebound>>

Intellectual disability (InD) is a disability that occurs before age 18. InD is characterized by deficits in two areas: 1) intellectual functioning and 2) adaptive behavior. These deficit areas can manifest in a variety of ways including difficulty with conceptual, social and practical everyday living skills. Students with an InD may receive services through Exceptional Student Education in a variety of settings as the full continuum of services is available.

Resources

• The Arc
  A community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families
• American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
  An interdisciplinary organization of professionals and citizens advocating quality of life and rights for those with intellectual disabilities.
• Best Buddies
  An organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Florida Department of Education
  The Florida Department of Education provides information on state laws, regulations and other state and national resources.

Contacts

Glenda Koshy
Supervisor, Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) and Intellectual Disabilities(InD) Programs
(813) 273-7288
Glenda.Koshy@hcps.net

Orthopedic Impairments (OI) is a bodily impairment that adversely affects a child’s educational performance. The term includes impairments caused by a congenital anomaly, impairments caused by disease (e.g., poliomyelitis, bone tuberculosis), and impairments from other causes (e.g., cerebral palsy, amputations, and fractures or burns that cause contractures). Services are provided across all educational settings.

Other Health Impairments (OHI) means having limited strength, vitality, or alertness. This includes having a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli that results in limited alertness with respect to the educational environment or that is due to chronic or acute health problems. This includes, but is not limited to, asthma, attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Tourette syndrome, diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell anemia, and acquired brain injury. Services are provided across all educational settings.

A Specific Learning Disability (SLD) is a brain-based disorder impacting one’s ability in understanding spoken or written language which can result in difficulties with listening, speaking, reading, writing, spelling, or mathematics. Students with SLD who continue to need interventions that significantly differ in intensity and duration from what can be provided solely through general education resources to make or maintain sufficient progress may receive services through Exceptional Student Education.

Resources

National Center for Learning Disabilities
Understood
LD Online
International Dyslexia Association
Dyslexia Fast Facts

Contacts

Tina Herbst
Supervisor, Instructional Support and Assessment
(813) 273-7287
Tina.Herbst@hcps.net

The Speech-Language Program provides therapeutic services to students identified as having a speech or language impairment. A speech or language impairment is defined as a communication disorder, such as stuttering, impaired articulation, expressive or receptive language delay, or voice impairment that adversely affects a child’s educational performance. Therapeutic services are provided by professionally-certified Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) within a flexible service-delivery framework in collaboration with parents, educators, and district programs. We also employ supervised speech assistants to provide school-based SLPs with additional therapeutic support.

Resources

• Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resource System (FDLRS) - The Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System (FDLRS) provides diagnostic, instructional, and technology support services to district exceptional education programs and families of students with disabilities.
• Children’s Board of Hillsborough County - The Children’s Board invests in partnerships and quality programs to support the success of all children and families in Hillsborough County.
• Join Our Team! Hillsborough County School District’s Speech-Language Program is actively recruiting licensed and certified speech-language pathologists and clinical fellows to serve our students. View current “SLH” vacancies and steps to apply

Contacts

Supervisor, Speech-Language Program
Deborah Llewellyn, M.S., CCC-SLP  
(813) 273-7520
Deborah.Llewellyn@hcps.net

Coordinator, Speech-Language Program
Shannon Meadows, M.S., CCC-SLP
(813) 273-7568
Shannon.Meadows@hcps.net

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, that adversely affects educational performance. The term applies to mild, moderate, or severe open or closed head injuries resulting in impairments in one or more areas, such as cognition; language; memory; attention; reasoning; abstract thinking; judgment; problem solving; sensory, perceptual and motor abilities; psychosocial behavior; physical functions; information processing; or speech. The term includes anoxia due to trauma. The term does not include brain injuries that are congenital, degenerative, or induced by birth trauma. Services are provided across all educational settings.

The Visually Impaired Program provides specialized instruction in all areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum to eligible students, age birth through twenty-two years. Special education services are provided by fully certified Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs) in a variety of educational settings including consultative support, itinerant resource support, resource rooms, and self-contained classes in accordance with individual education plans, or individual family support plans. Orientation and mobility instruction is provided both on campus and in the community and is provided by certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists. The Visually Impaired Program works cooperatively with the Florida Division of Blind Services Tampa District Office and the Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind to ensure a seamless service delivery system to children and families in Hillsborough County.

Resources

• American Foundation for the Blind
  The American Foundation for the Blind removes barriers, creates solutions, and expands possibilities so people with vision loss can achieve their full potential.
• FamilyConnect
  On FamilyConnect you'll find videos, personal stories, events, news, and an online community that can offer tips and support from other parents of children who are blind or visually impaired.
• Florida Division of Blind Services
  The Florida Division of Blind Services helps blind and visually impaired individuals achieve their goals and live their lives with as much independence and self-direction as possible.
• National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI)
  The National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI) is a non-profit organization of, by and for parents committed to providing support to the parents of children who have visual impairments.
• Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind
  Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind provides on-site comprehensive rehabilitation programs for persons who are blind or visually impaired in two locations in Florida.

Contact

Amanda Lawyer, M.Ed.
Coordinator
(813) 837-7840
Amanda.Lawyer@hcps.net

Health Services are intended to assist parents, schools and health professionals in providing health services in the school setting.

Health Services >>

Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy (OT/PT) are services provided to students with disabilities in order to benefit from special education. OT/PT is provided as a direct or indirect service through a continuum of services utilizing a collaborative, integrated approach that may include, but is not limited to the following:

• Working with students, teachers and other team members to assure a collaborative and coordinated service delivery
• Working hands-on, having face-to-face interactions on a regular basis between the related service professional and the student which may take place in a variety of settings within the educational environment
• Collaborating with the members of the team to develop and implement strategies and modifications that support student's individualized goals and objectives
• Assessing the student's educational need for modification of environment, educationally relevant equipment, technology, and assistive devices
• Modeling and training classroom staff, students and parents on how to implement educationally relevant therapeutic strategies and use adapted equipment, assistive technology, and devices.
• Liaison with medical professionals

Contact

Sarah Black
Coordinator, Occupational and Physical Therapy Team/Orthopedically and Physically Impaired  
(813) 837-7840
Sarah.Black@hcps.net

Orientation and Mobility is a related service offered only to students eligible for the Visually Impaired or Dual Sensory Impaired Programs, who demonstrate the need for training in the use of specific travel skills. Lessons focus on providing children of all ages with the skills necessary to move safely, efficiently and independently through various environments including the home, school campus and community. Students are taught to use their senses along with assistive tools as needed such as long canes, adapted canes, speech output applications or monocular telescopes to access the evironment, cross streets, utilize public transportation, plan routes or simply reach the highest level of independent travel possible.

Resources

• Orientation and Mobility for Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
• Foundational Orientation and Mobility Skills
• Orientation and Mobility for Blind Babies

Contacts

Tiffany Conrad
Coordinator
(813) 837-7840
Tiffany.Conrad@hcps.net

The Student Nutrition Services offers many programs to school sites and the community including free and reduced meals, summer food service program, Nutrition & Allergen Information and online access to menus.

Student Nutrition Services >>