The Williamsburg Local School District is participating in a statewide effort of locating, evaluating, and identifying all children with disabilities, birth through 21 years of age, who may be in need of special education and related services.

A disability means having one or more conditions defined by federal regulations and state standards that adversely impacts a student’s education. These disabilities include: autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability, deaf-blindness, deafness, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment (including blindness), and developmental delay (preschool ages 3-5).

If you know a child who may have a disability, please contact the district.

Section 504:

• Provides protection against discrimination for individuals with disabilities, including students in schools.

• Section 504 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability from all school programs and activities in both public and private schools receiving direct or indirect federal funding.

• Section 504 is designed to provide equal access and fairness in general education to students with disabilities, thereby leveling the playing field for them through what is known as a Section 504 Accommodation Plan

Each school building in the District has 504 Plan coordinators that are school counselors. If you are interested in requesting an evaluation for your student, please contact the 504 Plan Coordinator at your student’s school building.

ADA/504 Coordinator Duties

IDEA 

The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) is a federal law that requires students with disabilities ages preschool through school age to receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). Williamsburg Local School provides a continuum of services to meet the needs of learners with special needs in their least restrictive environment.

If you suspect there is an academic issue, set up a meeting with your child's counselor or contact Dr. Shelby Wright, School Psychologist. 

Prior to an evaluation for special education, students may participate in a Multi Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS), where they are given the opportunity to develop skills and close learning gaps through research based interventions.  This is individualized to meet each students’ needs based on their data. Students who struggle to respond to these intensive interventions may be referred for an evaluation to determine if the student is eligible for special education services. 

Williamsburg local  follows an evaluation model set forth by the Ohio Department of Education, Office of Exceptional Children. Evaluations are coordinated by the child’s building team which may consist of all or some of the following team members: principal, classroom teacher, school psychologist, speech and language pathologist, guidance counselor, intervention specialist, and parent.

In accordance with rule 3301-51-06 of the Ohio Administrative Code, students may be defined as having a disability in one of the following areas:

• Intellectual Disability

• Hearing Impairment

• Deafness

• Speech or language impairment

• Visual Impairment

• Autism

• Traumatic Brain Injury

• Other Health Impairment (minor/major)

• Specific Learning Disability

• Deaf-Blindness

• Multiple disabilities

• Emotional Disturbance

• Orthopedic Impairment

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004 requires that “to the maximum extent appropriate,” children with disabilities are educated with children who are not disabled. A full continuum of special education service delivery exists in meeting the individual needs of students with disabilities.

A Guide to Parent Rights in Special Education (Procedural Safeguards Notice)

Read the ODE guide to Parental Rights.

Summary: This document outlines the rights and protections available to parents under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It provides details about the special education process, consent requirements, access to educational records, complaint procedures, and due process hearings. It is designed to help parents understand and participate in decisions regarding their child's education.

Specific questions may be directed to the Director of Student Services or Dr. Wright.

Autism and Jon Peterson Scholarship Resources

Your child may be eligible for a scholarship under the Autism Scholarship Program or the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program to attend a special education program that implements the child's individualized education program and that is operated by an alternative public provider or by a registered private provider.

https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Other-Resources/Scholarships/Special-Needs-Scholarship

https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Other-Resources/Scholarships/Autism-Scholarship-program

Resource from ODEW - chart for FAPE related to Scholarships for students with disabilities:

Autism Scholarship FAPE Chart

JP Scholarship FAPE Chart

EDCHOICE OPTIONS- 

Contact Director of Student Services Tina Reichert for further assistance with Autism and JP Scholarship questions.
Tina Reichert
[email protected]
Director of Student Services
Williamsburg Local School District