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Service Providers
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School Psychologist
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Supports students through administering, interpreting, and integrating psychological and educational assessments to determine needs related to learning
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Provide mental health, counseling, and crisis management services that address needs at school and home to help students succeed academically, emotionally, and socially.
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Collaborates with all stakeholders
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Speech Language Pathologist
Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) in the school setting are an integral part of a school’s special education team. SLPs provide services at the 18-21 year transition level with either or both direct and consultative support to assist students in meeting their Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals in Independent Living, Post Secondary Education and Training and/or Employment.
SLPs work with students one-on-one, in small groups, or support them indirectly. They may coordinate with special education teachers to co-teach a lesson or class, and/or provide support to families or caregivers with suggestions, strategies, or resources for their student’s communication success.
SLPs participate in students’ triennial evaluations through the school district to determine eligibility or a continuing need in the area of speech and language.
Areas of Support:
Students with other primary disabilities (e.g. developmental cognitive delay, learning disabilities, physical impairments, and autism spectrum disorder) may demonstrate communication difficulties that occur with, or are separate from, their primary disability and require specialized services from an SLP. These areas may include:
- Functional Communication
- Support students to effectively learn to communicate wants and needs through sign language, gestures, verbalizations or via Augmentative/Alternative Communication (AAC).
- Evaluate, modify, provide training, implement, and support varied levels of assistive technology from low-tech picture based systems to high tech verbal output communication devices (such as dedicated systems, or tablets with communication applications).
- Social Communication
- Make requests and choices.
- Use appropriate greetings and closings.
- Initiate and maintain conversations while staying on topic.
- Understand and appropriately use the rules for verbal and nonverbal communication.
- Ability to take the perspective of others (inferring others’ thoughts and feelings).
- Ability to vary speaking style to fit the situation.
- Problem-solving.
- Understand and use non-literal language (indirect requests, idioms, sarcasm, etc).
- Practice social skills in various environments: how to ask for help in a store, how to order in a restaurant, how to have an appropriate conversation with various listeners, and how to have a successful interview.
- Other areas:
- Speaking clarity
- Fluency
- Voice disorders
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Behavior Intervention Specialist
The Pathways program has a behavior intervention specialist (BIS). This staff member utilizes several different behavior management strategies to help prevent, teach, and respond to student behaviors. The BIS utilizes their unique skill set in the classroom to assist with the development and implementation of Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP) or Individualized Education Programs (IEP) for individual students whose behaviors are impacting their ability to learn. The BIS is involved with activities such as:
- Creation of disability-specific educational strategies
- Implementation of positive behavior supports
- Small group instruction on topics such as anger management, calming strategies, and emotional regulation
- Administration of applied behavior analysis
- One on one behavior support
- Creation and implementation of Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans
- Student specific sensory integration plans
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School Social Worker
The social worker provides one to one guidance during the school day and connects students to a wide variety of resources within the community.
The social workers can help address issues related to:
- Basic needs including food, clothing, and shelter
- Navigating social challenges
- Emotional and behavioral issues
- Mental health concerns
- Assisting students with community resources
- Communicating on the student's behalf with school staff and community providers
- Finding appropriate support groups and/or other resources
- Supporting homeless and highly mobile students and families
- Supporting pregnant and parenting students
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Work Coordinators
Employment
Employment is one of the three main transition areas addressed at Pathways Transition Program. At Pathways, students work with their Special Education Case Managers and their Work Coordinators (licensed special education teachers) to plan their course of learning and their path to graduation.
Pathways staff is committed to supporting our students as they build the work skills they need to enter the workforce. Based on the student’s interests and needs, there are many opportunities available to our students. Opportunities for students may include:
- Direct instruction in a work experience seminar class:
- Resume and interview skills
- Communication skills
- Problem solving
- Safety at work
- Professionalism
- Self-assessment of interests and skills
- Career research
- Volunteer (non-paid) district and community worksites
- Paid training worksites (coordinated through Pathways and outside providers)
- Assistance in obtaining competitive employment
Do you (or your student) meet the criteria below?
- Receiving special education services
- Have not received a high school diploma
- Under the age of 21
- Have transition needs in the areas of employment, independent living and postsecondary education
If so, Pathways may be the place for you!
Education + Employment Skills = Your Pathway to the future!
