HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The following information was sent in a press release by Huntsville City Schools received July 25:
HCS to Offer Face-to-Face Therapy Services during Remote and Virtual Learning
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- (July 25, 2020) -- Huntsville City Schools (HCS) is removing barriers for families by providing individualized face-to-face therapeutic services during remote and virtual learning.
The HCS Special Education Department will provide students receiving services with an individualized distance learning plan (IDLP) in addition to their existing individualized education plans (IEP).
School teams will work with families to determine if students who receive one-to-one therapeutic services would best be served in a face-to-face manner. Examples of individualized services may include speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral services.
During remote learning, students set to receive face-to-face special education services will visit a centralized location at Cavalry Hills to engage in their individualized therapy. When in-person learning resumes, students who receive services will resume therapy at their zoned school. Students participating in Huntsville Virtual Academy (HVA) will continue to have the opportunity to receive services at Cavalry Hills throughout the school year.
In both traditional and virtual frameworks, students who receive special education will continue to receive their related services.
HCS will address transportation in students’ IDLPs as with traditional IEPs to ensure students may access their services.
Health and safety measures will be implemented to mitigate risk including temperature checks and daily health screenings as students enter facilities. As a health precaution, face-to-face therapy will be provided in one-on-one settings and HCS will not administer group therapy.
The HCS Special Education team is creating specialized therapy rooms to meet students’ individualized needs.
Additionally, HCS will provide teletherapy for families who would prefer their student engage in virtual rather than in-person therapy. HCS has upgraded technology to provide students and therapists the ability to engage in virtual therapy for families who would prefer their students not enter buildings.
The first day of school is Monday, Aug. 17, 2020 when all HCS students will begin the first nine weeks remotely and virtually.
-HCS-
