School Profiles
School partner needs are unique to each district but also fall into common categories. Whether it’s an unexpected staffing shortage, insuring that a child with unique AAC needs remains in compliance with their IEP, or that a district is interested in finding new ways to improve their related services model, Boothby Therapy Services has the staff, expertise, and local response that special education administrators trust.
Here are some common examples that illustrate how schools use BTS services every day.
Last Minute Staffing
Provider No Show
A district in Central NH had their staffing needs all set until their Clinical Fellow candidate accepted a competing offer without informing the district. On day three of the new school year we got the call for help. By day five we had a provider in place and underway with services. The district was never out of compliance as we were able to provide make up services for sessions that had been missed.
The Need for Specialty Training
Technology and Training Makes a Difference
A Lakes Region school district needed an expert to help in implementing iPad technology in the classroom for students receiving special education services. Our service provider provided extensive iPad training for teachers, staff, and students. In addition, she has been instrumental in implementing Read-Write-Gold in classrooms for written language success for students who have previously struggled in this area. Teachers have used the program for all students and have seen an increase in skill across the board.
Part-Time or Temporary Coverage for Illness or Maternity Leave
Emergency Coverage
A large district in Southern NH called with the difficult news that one of their long term service providers was unexpectedly diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer which required extensive treatment. We were able bring in a speech-language pathologist who had retired from a neighboring district. Her level of experience and professionalism was necessary to insure a continuation of IEP services and midyear integration into a team going through its own anxiety and concern for their colleague. Our service provider’s schedule was critical as the cancer treatment was experimental and without a specific time frame, which required our Clinician on Call to provide flexible services for the remainder of the school year.
A Desire to Maximize Efficiency
Getting an Administrative Handle on Related Services
A Seacoast district was struggling with the issue of how many related services providers it actually needed. Rapidly changing caseloads, related services staff turnover, and inconsistent eligibility criteria were causing some schools to be overstaffed. At the same time other buildings were experiencing shortages and required Boothby Therapy Services to staff those needs. Through a BTS CARE Plan, we were able to work with the Special Education Administrator to define and implement new eligibility criteria and staffing patterns, and eliminate the need for related services coverage to remain in compliance.
Assistance in Meeting Regulation Compliance
IEP Season Overload
One of our larger school partners has a very transient population resulting in wide swings in identified students during the school year. With Spring “IEP Season” in full swing, the district didn’t have enough staff to stay in compliance. In response to this need, we were able to tap into our Clinicians On Call network of part-time service providers and have an immediate influx of experienced service providers complete testing, write up the results, and present at a team meeting within the 45-day window.