Early Childhood Special Education Referral Process & Strategies

The first half of this session will review the process, criteria(s), and eligibility requirements for students from birth up to age 7 for special education services.  In addition to the special education process the attendees will also learn communication strategies for young children with delayed communication development.

I am Deb Alt and I am an Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) teacher for the Redwood Area School District (RASD) in Redwood Falls, MN.  I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Social Science with an emphasis in Elementary Education and a Master's Degree in the education of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing both from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado.  I am also a licensed ECSE teacher in Minnesota.  Currently, I am the ECSE Birth-3 teacher for RASD which includes the Lower Sioux Indian Reservation.  I have been the ECSE Birth-3 teacher for over 25 years.  I also case manage ECSE 3-5 year-olds when needed.  In addition to being a special education teacher I am also a parent of a child with special needs.  My adult son has autism.   He started receiving early intervention services at the age of 2 and and was diagnosed medically and educationally at 3 1/2.  As I have experienced the entire special education process literally from the beginning (early childhood)  to the end (high school graduation) I have the opportunity to interact with families and students from a unique perspective as I understand "both sides of the table" being a special education teacher, but also being a parent of a child with special needs.