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Preface:
The Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind (ISDB) is established by Section 33-3401, Idaho Code. ISDB is State supported and part of the public school system of the State of Idaho. The school's objective is the education of children whose primary handicap is a hearing impairment or visual impairment.
Under Federal and State regulations, all students enrolled at ISDB must be referred by their local education agency (LEA) based on a recommendation resulting from a Child Study Team Meeting.
Every students program is reviewed annually, or more often if necessary, through the IEP process. Continued enrollment and/or an alternative placement will be determined by the Child Study Team involving parents and LEA.
Eligibility Requirements for Special Education Services
(Idaho Special Education Implementation Manual)
Deaf
- Inability to process linguistic information through hearing which adversely affects educational performance.
- Requires specially designed instruction.
- Diagnosed as deaf by otologist, audiologist, or other hearing specialist.
- Assessed as to educational strengths and weaknesses as well as adaptive behavior
- Certified by CST.
Hard of Hearing
- Hearing impairment which adversely affects educational performance.
- Requires specially designed instruction.
- Diagnosed as having a hearing impairment by otologist, audiologist, or other hearing specialist.
- Assessed as to educational strengths and weaknesses as well as adaptive behavior.
- Certified by CST.
Blind
- Have documentation of a visual impairment, not primarily perceptual in nature, resulting in measured acuity of 20/70 or poorer in the better eye with correction, or a visual field restriction of 20 degrees as determined by an optometrist or ophthalmologist, which even with correction adversely affects education performance. This eligibility category may include those who are "partially sighted" and:
- Exhibit a physical eye condition that affects visual functioning to the extent that specially designed instruction is needed; and
- Require specially designed instruction, special facilities, equipment, materials, or methods to make his or her educational program effective as determined by a teacher of visually impaired; and
- Be assessed for academic strengths and weaknesses as well as adaptive behavior; and
- Be certified by a CST as qualifying for and needing special education services in order to benefit from his or her educational program.
Deaf-Blind
- Students having concomitant hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes severe communication and other developmental and education problems that cannot be accommodated by special education programs designed to serve deaf or blind students.
Admission Requirements For All Students Receiving Services From ISDB
- Parent(s) or guardian(s) must be a legal resident(s) of the State of Idaho.
- The student must be less than 21 years of age.
- Student must meet eligibility requirements for Special Education Services for deaf, hard of hearing, blind or deaf-blind.
- The students LEA must present documentation in the referral process that a CST meeting was held to determine placement at ISDB.
- A student with impairments in addition to hearing and/or visual impairments may be admitted if, after the Child Study Team meeting, it is demonstrated that ISDB is the most appropriate placement for the student.
- ISDB may determine that students with hearing and/or visual impairments should not be admitted to full time day or residential programs when additional handicapping conditions take precedence as the primary handicap or when students exhibit behavior and/or medical condition(s) which are injurious to themselves or the others.
- Before a student, who is deemed medically fragile, shall be admitted:
- Assurances shall be obtained from qualified medical authorities who understand the medical resources of ISDB that admission and participation in education programs and services of the agency do not constitute additional health risk to the student;
- That normal and regular health services provided to all ISDB students are adequate for the student.
Documentation Needed for Admission Consideration
- Application
- Social History
- School Entrance Physical Examination
- Immunization Certification
- Letter of referral from LEA including recommendation of Child Study Team
- Previous School Record, including copies of all testing information which documents handicapping conditions.
- Birth Certificate or Proof of Birth
- Social Security Number
Exit Criteria
- AGE: The student will exit at age 21 years. If the student's 21st birthday occurs during a semester he/she will be allowed to complete that semester.
- RESIDENCE: If the student's parents (guardians) move from the state the student will exit the program and records will be forwarded at the request of the parents (guardians).
- IMPAIRMENT: If the student is determined to no longer be hearing impaired, visually impaired, deaf-blind, by the Child Study Team, he/she shall exit ISDB programs and be referred to the district of residence.
- GRADUATION: The student shall be graduated when requirements for graduation as established by the IEP have been completed.
- OTHER: The student shall exit from ISDB when the Child Study Team indicates that ISDB programs are no longer appropriate.
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