Special Services
Office of Special Education Services
Wethersfield Board of Education
127 Hartford Avenue
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Special education teachers in each of our schools provide instructional support services to nearly 450 students with special needs ranging from mild to severe. The district has a long-standing philosophy of providing services in the student's home school whenever possible. However, students are provided with programs that range from total inclusion to self-contained depending upon individual need. Teachers are highly trained, state certified or licensed individuals holding at least a Master's Degree. In addition, most programs have paraprofessional support. Adaptive technology and equipment is easily available and widely utilized within the district.
Contact Us
Elizabeth Freitas - Supervisor, Special Education Services (860) 571-8138
Kayla Evans - Instructional Supervisor, Special Services(860) 571-8228
Michelle Camerota - Executive Secretary (860) 571-8141
TBD - Administrative Secretary (860) 571-8137
Patricia Welles - Administrative Clerk (860) 571-8132
Special Services available to families of the Wethersfield school district
Psychological Services
The district's school psychologists provide a range of services. While their primary function is to administer and interpret special education assessments on students who have been referred as having possible learning difficulties, our psychologists also provide consultation services with teachers and parents, individual and small group counseling for students, and are involved in a number of community and interagency coordination projects. In addition, psychologists play a key role in prevention programs, such as social skills training, violence prevention, conflict management education, and peer helper training.
Health Services
The district's school nurses monitor immunization requirements, perform required vision and health screenings, as well as tend to assorted injuries when at the school sites. The school nurses provide in-service training to teachers regarding important health and safety concerns, provide training to new teachers and updates on new materials to more experienced staff. They also work with parents, physicians and special educators in developing individual care plans for medically fragile students.
Occupational Therapy
The occupational therapist performs evaluations on students with special needs suspected of having fine or gross motor delays. Programs are developed to improve motor coordination, sensory-motor integration, and functional daily living skills in conjunction with other special and general educators.
Social Worker Services
Social workers provide support to all students and families district-wide. These services focus on counseling students and families and linking families with resources outside of the school setting. The social workers also work with each school's planning and placement team in the development of individual student programs and provide support in collaboration with the regular education teachers.
Speech and Language
The Speech and Language Specialists provide services to students from preschool through age 21. Direct remediation is available for both speech articulation difficulties, and for expressive or receptive language delays. In addition, our specialists perform evaluations on referred students, and develop individual education plans for students with speech or language needs.
Homebound Instruction
Homebound Instruction provides temporary educational services to students whose medical condition precludes them from attending public school.
Youth Services Department
The Wethersfield Department of Youth Services offers many services to families that link the schools to the Wethersfield community.
All public school systems in Connecticut are responsible for the identification of all children who may be eligible to receive special education services three years of age or older. The Wethersfield Public School System will soon offer preschool developmental screenings for current Wethersfield resident children, to ensure all children receive appropriate services and supports prior to entering Kindergarten.
Parents are asked, if they are concerned about their young child’s development at any age, to call the school district to inquire further about the screening process and services.
The screening activities are designed to observe and assess a child’s development in problem-solving and thinking skills as demonstrated in play, language and communication, social interaction and adaptive behavior and fine/gross motor skills and abilities.
During the 45-minute screening session the pre-kindergarten team will interact with and observe each child in a variety of activities. Following the student activities, families will receive feedback in the mail or a phone call from a team member.
Screenings will be held on the first Friday of every month. Parents who wish to have their child participate in a screening must call 860-571-8137 at the Wethersfield Board of Education. The children will be assigned a screening date and time based on their age. Your child needs to be turning 3 by the month of the party.
Parents are reminded that if at any time they have concerns, they do not need to wait for a screening; they can simply call the Wethersfield Board of Education and they will be connected to the appropriate team member.
Parent Resources
The parents of children with special needs often look for resources that can help them help their children. You will find resources here that may be able to help you. All of the resources listed can be found at the Special Education Resource Center, many can be downloaded from SERC.
Request for Information
Special Education Resource Center 25 Industrial Park RoadMiddletown, CT 06457-1520860-632-1485www.ctserc.orgMaterials available at SERC, and online:
Approved Private Special Education Programs
Autism: a list of publications from January 2003 – July 2005
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorders: a list of publications from June 2004 -2005
Building a Bridge, from School to Adult Life for Young Adults with Disabilities in CT
Building Bridges, A Directory of Community Rehabilitation Providers for Youth in Transition and Adults with Disabilities in Connecticut
Children with Complex Health Care Needs: A Guide for Families
Children’s and Adolescents’ Literature on Disability Awareness, Integration and Inclusion: an annotated bibliography: February 2005
CT Birth to Three System
Connecticut’s Blueprint on Reading Achievement
Directory of Summer Camps & Programs for Exceptional Children in Connecticut
A Guide to Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing In Connecticut
Helpful CT Resources for Families
A Parent’s Guide to Special Education in Connecticut
Preschool Profiles, Directory of Programs & Services for Children (3-5) with Disabilities
Statewide Organizations – listed below and in the binder at Wethersfield Public Library
Transition Bill of Rights
Transition Planning for Youth with Disabilities, Bureau of Rehabilitation Service
Statewide Organizations – Helpful Resources for Families
CT Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities (CACLD)25 Van Zant StreetSuite 15-5East Norwalk, CT 06855203-838-5010http://www.cacld.org/
Learning Disabilities Association of CT999 Asylum AvenueHartford, CT 06105860-560-1711www.ldact.org
CT Autistic Spectrum Resource Center1978 Whitney AvenueHamden, CT 06517203-248-5222http://www.ct.asrc.org/
Arc of CT1030 New Britain AvenueSuite 102West Hartford, CT 06110860-953-8335http://www.arcct.com/
Statewide Legal Services425 Main StreetMiddletown, CT 06457800-453-3320 (English)800-453-3374 (Spanish)http://www.slsct.org/
DMHAS Deaf, Hard of Hearing or Deaf Blind Programs and Services (DHOH) 55 Farmington Ave 12 floor Hartford, CT 06105 860-424-5055 portal.ct.gov/DMHAS
Board of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB)184 Windsor AvenueWindsor, CT 06095860-602-4020besb@po.state.ct.us
Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS)25 Sigourney Street, 11th floorHartford, CT 06106800-537-2549http://www.brs.state.ct.us/
Department of Mental Retardation (DMR)460 Capitol AvenueHartford, CT 06106860-418-6000http://www.dmr.state.ct.us/
Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities60-B Weston StreetHartford, CT 06120800-842-7303www.ct.gov/opapd