Overview of ARIN Special Education Programs, Services, and Supports

Irene M. Mergen, D.Ed., Director of Special Education

The ARIN Intermediate Unit has a long history of providing high quality programs, services and supports for children and youth with disabilities ages 3 through 21 in Armstrong and Indiana counties. The ARIN Early Intervention Program staff serves preschool age children with disabilities in a variety of settings in both counties, with emphasis on supporting children's participation in preschool experiences with their typically developing peers. ARIN school age programs that provide direct services to students are located and delivered in school district buildings. These programs and services include learning support, life skills support, deaf or hard of hearing support, blind or visually impaired support, speech and language support, community based instruction, and specialized basic education instruction for students with disabilities (art, music, and adapted physical education). The Work Experience program prepares, places, and follows up with students with disabilities in paying jobs in local settings. Highly qualified paraprofessional educators provide academic and/or personal care support for individuals or groups of students with disabilities under the direction of special education teachers and supervisors.

The ARIN Early Intervention Program, as well as school district operated and ARIN operated special education programs receive support from our staff of school psychologists, who provide a broad range of services in the school districts where they are assigned. Examples of services include evaluation and reevaluation of individual student learning and behavioral needs, communication with parents and families regarding student needs, counseling services, participation in building level student support teams, and building or district level crisis intervention and support when it is needed.

Special education supervision, and training and consultation (TaC) services round out the array of supports and services available to our districts. Supervision is a service that a district may contract to coordinate their special education programs and services K-12, oversee procedural compliance and safeguards, and organize professional development for special education and general education teachers on special education topics. Training and consultation services in the areas of Response to Instruction and Intervention (RtII), autism, inclusive practices, positive behavior support, assistive technology, and secondary transition are available at no cost to all of our school districts through our use of IDEA-B funds.

ARIN special education programs, services and supports continue to enjoy a reputation for high quality and responsiveness to the needs of students, families, and the school communities of Armstrong and Indiana counties.