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Special Education

Special Education – Services for students with a disability

ACT public schools offer a range of specialist settings and programs for children and students with a disability. If your child has a disability and you wish to find out what services and support are available in your area please contact your school counsellor. If your child is not currently enrolled in an ACT public school, please contact the Student Support Section of the Department of Education and Training on (02) 6205 6925. A description of settings and programs is provided below. If you would like further information on any of these programs please contact the Student Support Section.

Early intervention programs

General Developmental Playgroups
Children attend one 2-hour session a week, with 6 children in each group. Playgroups operate in local preschools and Therapy ACT, Holder.
Programs focus on early developmental skills in the areas of:

joint attention
turn taking
attending and
communication.

These playgroups are for children aged 2 to 3 years who have needs in two or more areas of development, or significant needs in one area of development, or who are experiencing social and emotional difficulties.

Communication and Social Awareness Playgroups (CASA)
Children attend twice weekly: A 2-hour morning session and a 1 � hour afternoon session. There are 6 children in each group with a teacher and 2 STAs. CASA programs operate from Therapy ACT, Holder.
CASA playgroups are designed to specifically address the needs of children aged 2 to 3 years who have significant needs in communication and social skills development.

Therapy and Education Playgroups
Children attend one 2-hour session a fortnight. Teachers and Therapy ACT therapists work collaboratively to plan and run the program. There are 8 children in each group.
This playgroup is for children aged 18 months to 3 years with significant or multiple physical disabilities. The multidisciplinary team approach allows for the overall management of complex issues.

Early Intervention Units (EIU)
EIUs provide four hours (2x2 hours) of educational programs per week for groups of 12 children.
Programs focus on attending skills, social interaction and independence and are held in preschool classrooms.
An experienced early childhood teacher plans and facilitates the program with the support of an STA. Children attending EIU may also attend mainstream preschool.
Children aged 3 – 5 years with a mild to moderate developmental delay.

Autism Intervention Units (AIU)
A small group program for children with a diagnosis of ASD. There are 4 children per group. Two 4-hour sessions are provided weekly, staffed by a teacher and STA. Children also attending preschool may receive support from AIU staff.
Children age 3 – 5 are eligible for AIU if they have a diagnosis of ASD.
Assessments are accepted from Therapy ACT, private Psychologists and specialist medical practitioners.

Language Intervention Unit (LIU)
(formally Language Preschool)
A small group program that provides family-centred language support and intervention for children with language delays/disorders. Children attend one 4-hour session weekly in a group with 12 children . LIU is run in partnership with Therapy ACT Speech Pathology. Refer to agreement between DET and Therapy ACT for more detail including roles and responsibilities of staff and exit criteria for students.

For children from age 3 to school entry, and

a) language is the primary need
b) with moderate-severe language difficulties, as assessed by a speech pathologist and
c) a developmental assessment rules out other needs that could be more appropriately addressed in another early intervention education program.

Early Childhood Centre (ECC)
A small group setting within a regular preschool environment for children who have a mild to moderate delay and additional special needs.
There are 8 children in each group, with one teacher and one assistant.
These centres are administered by the primary special schools, Cranleigh, Malkara and Turner.
3 year old groups operate for up to 8 hours per week. 4 year old groups operate for 12 hours per week.
Children aged 3 and 4 years with mild to moderate developmental delay, evidenced by either:

A GQ < 70 or
meeting the ACT Student Disability Criteria for ASD.

Early Childhood Units (ECU)
ECUs are small part time classes for children with moderate to profound intellectual or multiple disabilities in special school settings at Cranleigh and Malkara Schools.
There are 6 children in each group, with one teacher and one assistant.
Children aged 3 to 5 years with a moderate to severe developmental delay evidenced by either:

a GQ of < 55 or
an ASD diagnosis plus 3 SDs below the mean on 4 or more domains on an adaptive behaviour test.

Special School programs

Cranleigh School / Malkara School are special schools for students who require intensive levels of support.
Students with a moderate to profound intellectual disability, or ASD evidenced by meeting the ACT Student Disability Criteria for a moderate to severe intellectual disability or having a diagnosis of ASD with an adaptive behaviour rating of at least 3 SD below mean on 4 or more domains.

The Woden School is a special setting for year 7 to year 10 students.
Students who meet the ACT Student Disability Criteria for intellectual disability, or ASD.

Black Mountain School offers programs for students of high school and college age.
Students with a moderate to profound intellectual disability, or ASD evidenced by meeting the ACT Student Disability Criteria for a moderate to severe intellectual disability, or having a diagnosis of ASD with an adaptive behaviour rating of at least 3 SD below mean on 4 or more domains.