Special Education Programs

Life Skills

Life Skills is a specialized instruction setting for students in special education. This instructional setting is intended for students who have a moderate to severe cognitive disability, need functional academics, and daily living skills to promote independence. Students’ access grade level TEKS at the prerequisite skill level and need intensive individualized instruction in a variety of instructional settings with substantial modifications for Life Skills.

E-mail: Kellie Gaylor

Inclusion

SWISD uses the Inclusion model to facilitate the delivery of Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) for some students who qualify for special education. In an Inclusion classroom, two certified teachers collaborate in the planning, delivery, and monitoring of services to help students make progress in identified areas of need as outlined in each student’s Individual Education Program (IEP).

Student Learning Supports

E-mail: Joseph Gonzalez

E-mail: Cassandra Ramirez

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)

Behavior Management Classroom (BMC) & Redirection Classroom

The Behavior Management Classroom (BMC) program specializes in supporting the individual educational needs of each student through behavioral and academic foundations. Our primary objective is to provide an environment that contributes to the acquisition of academic and pro-social behavior skills that generalize throughout all aspects of a student's life.

E-Mail: Frank Hogan

E-Mail: Samantha Baker

Speech-Language & Assistive Technology Programs

School-based speech therapy is an instructional or related service that supports the educational program for students who have a disorder in communication in one or more of the following areas: articulation, language, voice, or fluency (stuttering). School-based Assistive Technology (AT) service is any service that directly assists a student with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device. Assistive Technology support becomes a related service when a student requires a specific tool to access curriculum, compensate for their disability, and/or provide independence in various settings.

E-mail: D'Lynn Erwin

Visually Impaired (VI) and Orientation and Mobility (O&M)

Teachers of the Visually Impaired, along with Orientation and Mobility Specialists, work together to meet the instructional and daily living skills of students with a visual impairment. The SWISD Special Education Department works collaboratively with campuses and our related services specialists to ensure that each student has access to the curriculum by providing such things as instruction in braille, social-emotional support, daily living and independence skills, and career and technology planning.

E-mail: Jessica Hart, Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments

E-mail: Rose Aguirre, O&M Specialist

Southwest ISD Transition for Life (T4L)

The Southwest ISD Transition for Life (T4L) program is designed to help students acquire a specific set of skills in alignment with their post-secondary goals. Students receiving special education services have the opportunity to experience, perform, and develop meaningful vocational skills in a "real-life" campus/community environment used as teaching tools. The T4L program is directly related to the preparation of the student for paid or unpaid employment or placement in a work/day program setting.

E-mail: Andrea Donelson Transition & Community Specialist

Homebound Services

Occupational & Physical Therapy (OT/PT)

Special Education PT and OT services are related or support services to the student’s instructional program. OT/PT services support the IEP through the integration of direct and indirect student interventions as well as collaboration/consultation with the educational team to provide students with access and participation in their school day.

E-mail:

Tiffany Lachenauer, Physical Therapist

Lydia Hernandez, Occupational Therapist

Lorretta Gonzales, COTA

Deaf & Hard of Hearing

Adapted Physical Education

Dyslexia