Resource: provides direct, specialized instruction and academic remediation and assistance with homework and related assignments as individuals or in groups.
Social Behavior Skills (SBS): SBS is a service that provides behavioral support and interventions to facilitate the emergence and development of an internal locus of control that equips students to think, decide, and make choices in the self-responsible ways that can lead to success and joy in living. If a student meets eligibility for SBS, the ARD committee will identify the appropriate goals to address behavioral needs through an IEP.
Social Communication Resources and Services (SCORES): SCORES is an instructional service that supports students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and/or other disabilities demonstrating impairment in social, communication, and behavioral skills. Through an Admission, Review, Dismissal (ARD) committee, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed with appropriate goals to address each student’s individual needs in these areas.
Life Skills: The mission of the Life Skills Program is to support the unique needs of students and provide a positive environment, which prepares students to live, work, and enjoy life in their community.
Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE): ECSE, formerly PPCD, provides special education services for any eligible child with an identified need who is between the ages of 3, 4, and 5. Services are provided at no costs to parents. The goal of the Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities is to provide early intervention on various campuses throughout Austin ISD. Each child who meets eligibility for ECSE services will have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) developed through an Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) committee to address need in the following areas: Language/Communication, Social Behavioral, Gross and Fine Motor, Daily Living Skills, Pre-Academic and Academic concepts. All services are provided by professional staff in the areas of need for each child. Individualized Education Plans are developed collaboratively by a team who is familiar with the student both at home and in the school setting.
Teaching Assistant / Paraprofessional: Under the supervision of teachers, paraprofessionals work in classrooms to reinforce the day’s lessons, provide more personal instruction to students, and help maintain behavioral standards and order.
Speech Therapist (SLP): SLPs specialize in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of communication disorders (speech disorders and language disorders), cognitive-communication disorders, voice disorders, and swallowing disorders
Occupational Therapist: Occupational therapy addresses the physical, cognitive, psychosocial and sensory components of performance. In schools, occupational therapy practitioners focus on academics, play and leisure, social participation, self-care skills (ADLs or Activities of Daily Living), and transition/work skills.
Physical Therapist: Physical therapists (PTs) are movement experts who optimize quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education.
Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP): LSSPs conducts evaluations (and often reevaluations) to determine if your students are eligible for, or can continue in, special education services, academic and behavior intervention plans, and counseling as a related service. We also help assess disabilities that are listed under IDEA’s 13 categories, with the exception of visual impairment, hearing impairment, and speech or language impairment.
Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT): CALT is a professional credential to describe an individual who has the expertise to provide services to individuals who have difficulty acquiring the basic language skills necessary to read, write and spell. CALTs have a deep knowledge of the structure of the English language and the experience to apply these skills in creating an individualized treatment plan for the remediation of dyslexia and related learning disorders.
Definitions sourced from various subject matter expert websites.