• Special Education Department

    Our special education department provides a comprehensive continuum of high quality services to more than 600 students with disabilities through Individual Education Programs (IEPs) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEIA).  Students receive services under one of the following disability categories:

    • Autism
    • Intellectual Disability
    • Deaf-Blindness
    • Deafness
    • Emotional Disturbance
    • Hearing Impairment
    • Multiple Disabilities
    • Orthopedic Impairment
    • Other Health Impairment
    • Specific Learning Disability
    • Speech or Language Impairment
    • Traumatic Brain Injury
    • Visual Impairment
    • Developmental Delay (Under Age 10)

    Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

    The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes available free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services for those children. The IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to eligible infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.

    Child Find

    Child Find (3301-51-03) is a rule which requires school districts to locate, evaluate and identify all students with suspected disabilities living within the Hudson City School District; this includes children with disabilities who are homeless children or are wards of the state, and children with disabilities attending nonpublic schools, regardless of the severity of their disability, and who are in need of special education and related services. 

    Hudson City Schools is committed to implementing Child Find activities to ensure that all students in need of Special Education and/or Related Services can receive the support they need.  If you have a child or know of a child that you suspect may have a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act and is not currently receiving services, please contact the Office of Pupil Services at Hudson City Schools at 330-653-1426. 

    Continuum of Special Education Services

    Each student’s special education services are provided in accordance with their Individualized Education Program (IEP).  The goal is to educate each student in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), which means providing services with peers in the general education setting to the maximum extent possible.  Hudson City Schools provides a continuum of service options.  Students may move between multiple models throughout their day/week.  Some of the types of models offered include: Inclusive, Resource, and Individualized Settings. Click here for additional information regarding the different model types.

    Related Services

    Related services are developmental, corrective, and other supportive services identified on a student's IEP and are required to assist a student with a disability to benefit from special education.  Examples of related services include, but are not limited to: Audiology, Behavioral Specialist Services, Clinical Counseling, Occupational Therapy, Orientation and Mobility services, Physical Therapy, Speech/Language Therapy, Transportation, and support from the Teacher of the Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing or Visually Impaired.

    Transition

    In Ohio, students with disabilities aged 14 formally enter into the secondary transition planning process. A truly successful transition process is the result of comprehensive planning that is driven by the student’s preferences, interests, needs, and strengths. This comprehensive planning moves students toward successful future outcomes in competitive, integrated employment, education, and independent living. (Ohio Department of Education - Secondary Transition and Workforce Development)

    Some of our school-based transition options for students include:

    • Career Assessment
    • Functional Living Lab and Coffee Shop
    • Six District Educational Compact Career Technical Education
    • Work Study (Six District Program)
    • Supported Postsecondary Community Experiences 
    • Project SEARCH

    Please note that this list is not exhaustive and IEP teams will determine the individualized services and activities appropriate for each student. Click here for additional information regarding the above listed transition options. 

    Parent Mentor Program

    The parent mentor serves as the support person and an information resource to assist parents with the special education process. The goal is to assist parents and teachers in establishing a cooperative working relationship to enable your child to reach his/her fullest potential. The Parent Mentor Program is funded through a grant through the Ohio Department of Education Office of Exceptional Children.