Special Services

The goal of speech-language services is to provide students with the skills needed to be effective communicators. This includes services to address a variety of needs in the areas of articulation, language, fluency, voice, and social communication skills. Within the Kaneland School District, a student is eligible to receive speech-language services when they exhibit speech-language deficits that adversely affect their educational performance. All speech-language services within the Kaneland School District are delivered by state licensed and nationally certified speech-language pathologists.

• Articulation: An articulation disorder involves problems making sounds. Sounds can be substituted, left off, added or changed. These errors may make it hard for people to understand you.
• Language: A language disorder includes difficulty understanding others (receptive language), or sharing thoughts, ideas, and feelings completely (expressive language)
• .Fluency: The most common fluency disorder is stuttering. It is an interruption in the flow of speaking characterized by repetitions (sounds, syllables, words, phrases), sound prolongations, blocks, interjections, and revisions, which may affect the rate and rhythm of speech.
• Voice: A voice disorder involves abnormal differences in the pitch, loudness, or quality of the voice. It includes abnormal hoarseness that impacts a student’s ability to effectively communicate, as well as differences in nasal resonance
• .Alternative/Augmentative Communication: Alternative and augmentative includes all forms of communication, other than oral speech that are used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas. This includes a range of technologies from picture and symbol communication boards to electronic devices.

Physical therapy services are provided to eligible students. A continuum of services from consultation to direct intervention are provided based on students’ needs as determined by the physical therapists in conjunction with the IEP team. Physical therapists provide support to students for needs such as mobility/movement, posture/positioning, and safety assessment of school environment.

Kaneland employs certified school psychologists for the purpose of referral, evaluation, counseling, and expertise in the area of learning. Psychologists play a huge role in the MTSS process by collaborating with school teams, delivering interventions, collecting and interpreting data.

School Social Workers assess students’ social and emotional functioning, including areas of self-concept, motivation, attitude toward school, peers, and social skills. They serve as consultants to teachers and provide individual or group assistance to students. They often are the liaison between the school and the family. Similarly, they may help other school professionals work with families on matters such as gaining access to community health services. The school social worker often follows up on teacher reports of the suspected abuse or neglect of students. They provide individual assistance to students with emotional or behavioral problems who do not qualify for special education.

The certified school nurse functions most directly in three areas affecting students: providing health services, health education, and maintaining a safe school environment. The certified school nurse also interacts with and can influence other aspects of the school system such as coordinating school health programs such as mental health, social services, nutritional services, physical education/activity, family and community involvement as well as staff wellness.

Occupational therapists work with students who have visual motor, fine motor, and sensory processing deficits. In school, Occupational Therapy involves the therapeutic use of classroom manipulatives, developmental strategies, and self-care tasks and play activities to support function within the academic community. School-based occupational therapy is designed to enhance the students’ abilities to fully access and be successful in the learning environment. Please note there is a distinction between school-based therapy and non-school-based therapy. A student must qualify for special education services through one or more of the 13 different disabilities. categories before occupational therapy can be considered. A script from your child's doctor will not allow your child to receive occupational therapy in the school setting. More details can be found here.

Occupational therapy services are provided to eligible students. A continuum of services from consultation to direct intervention is provided, based on students’ needs as determined by the occupational therapists in conjunction with the IEP team.