Pupil Services

Special Education

The Connecticut Department of Education’s “Parent’s Guide to Special Education in Connecticut” (2007) refers to special education as services provided to a child with an identified disability who requires specially designed instruction to meet his/her unique needs. These services also enable the child to access the general curriculum of the school district. A child who is eligible for special education services is entitled through the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE). FAPE refers to the appropriateness of educational services provided to students with disabilities and the determination whether or not these services are equal to those services provided to non-disabled students. The interpretation of FAPE differs from student to student because each student has unique needs.

Each local educational authority (LEA) is mandated to the following:

• Comply with the procedural requirements of IDEA
• Address the child’s unique needs as identified through evaluations, observation, and the child’s educational team
• Coordinate services and specially designed instruction to ensure the child is able to make adequate progress in the educational setting. Specially designed instruction may include:
  • Individual instruction, as outlined in the student’s IEP/Individualized Education Plan, developed collaboratively by the planning and placement team (PPT).
  • Related services, which are those services that are required in order for a child to benefit from special education, may include but not limited to, psychological and counseling services, speech and language services, audiological services, guidance, social work, transportation, physical and occupational therapy and medical services that are required for diagnostic or evaluation purposes.

Connecticut State Agency Resources

Department of Developmental Services

• DDS HELP LINE: Contact the DDS Help Line to help find out what DDS supports may be available to you. Information about eligibility.

Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS)

• BRS Process

Eligibility Services

CT 211 Benefits Navigatorprovides a screening tool to help you find what supports you may be eligible to receive.

Department of Social Services