Special Education
Gilbert Public Schools Special Education Department provides educational opportunities for all disabled students, ages 3–22. We aim to provide superior special education support and services that meet the academic, physical, social, and emotional needs of all our students in special education.
Our primary goal is to accelerate student learning, closing the achievement gap between students in special education and their nondisabled peers and/or providing the services, tools, and supports necessary for students to be successful both in school and community settings.
Every student is educated to the maximum extent appropriate with their non-disabled peers. Special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of students with disabilities from the general education environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the disability warrants such services outside of the general education classroom. These decisions are made on an individualized basis, with input from the entire team, including the parent.
Parent participation and input are highly valued in Gilbert Public Schools and are considered a crucial part of all special education decisions.
Please contact your child's school first with any questions by calling the campus and asking for the appropriate staff member: Principal, School Psychologist, or Special Education Teacher. To reach the department chair or a special education teacher at the Junior High Schools and High Schools ask for the Special Education Department and then ask for the appropriate staff member.
Transition Services
Every campus has the ability to provide transition services to students. The student’s IEP team will determine whether the student requires additional transition services that may be supported through additional time on the comprehensive campus or off-campus transition programs.
Special Education Contacts
Special Education - District Programs and Services
Adapted Physical Education (APE) is physical education that has been adapted or modified to allow a student with a disability to participate in physical education. APE emphasizes the importance of physical activity and fitness as well as the development of gross and fine motor skills. Students receive instruction from an APE teacher and may be integrated into a typical PE class with peers or into a specialized APE class.
A guided play program aligned with the Arizona Department of Education Early Learning Standards with a focus on critical thinking skills and social-emotional development.
Ages: 3 & 4 years old
Integrated SPICE is a blended program with all students learning and growing in one inclusive environment. Every child can feel valued for their unique contributions and have a sense of belonging.
Assistive Technology is a system of tools and strategies that enables a person with disabilities to function to his/her maximum potential educationally, vocationally, socially, and in their daily living activities.
Children residing within the Gilbert School District with an identified hearing loss may be eligible for services from the District’s Deaf & Hard of Hearing (DHH) Program. Eligibility is contingent upon the child’s hearing loss and whether or not it is educationally significant and requires the provision of special education and related services.
How and in what capacity these services are provided is based on each individual child’s needs. The whole child is taken into account when determining the services needed, not only the type and degree of hearing loss. Other variables influencing the child’s placement may include, but are not limited to: the age at which hearing loss was identified; hearing aid history; the presence of additional disabilities; social-emotional development; and educational performance.
For those students qualifying for the program, it is the District’s intention to provide:
- skills in the areas of auditory training, speech, language, reading, and writing
- an opportunity for achievement in content areas
- an opportunity for students to exit the program with a strong sense of their identity
- skills to function in both the deaf and hearing worlds, as is applicable
What is an IEP?
Federal and state law (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA) mandates a free appropriate education for all children with special education needs, from three to 21 years of age. The IEP is the specific vehicle for your child’s free appropriate education. You, as the parent, know your child better than anyone else. Therefore, your input during the IEP process is essential and invaluable.
School-based occupational therapy is designed to enhance the student’s ability to fully access and be successful in the learning environment. Depending on the student, it may include improving fine motor skills, sensorimotor processing, coordination, adapting environments, recommending/adapting equipment, organizing and using materials appropriately, and developing self-care skills appropriate to the learning environment
School-based physical therapy is designed to enhance the student’s ability to benefit from special education. Within the educational model, physical therapists assist students with the development and practice of gross motor skills, postural control, functional mobility (transfers, gait, or wheelchair mobility), endurance, strength, joint or trunk mobility, positioning for educational performance, and adapting equipment or modifications to architectural barriers
For children with autism spectrum and related disorders with more intensive needs, self-contained classes are offered at the preschool, elementary, and secondary levels. Methodology within these classes is driven by each child’s individualized needs and could include a variety of techniques proven effective for children with autism (i.e. Structured Teaching, Applied Behavior Analysis, Picture Exchange Communication System, Visual Supports, Task Analysis, etc.).
For additional information contact the school psychologist on your child's campus or contact the District’s Coordinator of Psychological Services at 480-497-3462.
All of our SCILLS programs allow for ample opportunities to participate meaningfully with nondisabled peers. These opportunities often include recess, lunch, specials, field trips, assemblies, and other subjects/times as determined appropriate by the IEP team.
We are parents of special needs children who attend Gilbert schools. We have volunteered to serve on this Council because we strongly believe we can make a difference in our special education community.
Speech and language therapy is a service provided by speech and language pathologists to address the needs of children and youth with communication disabilities. Speech Language Pathologists work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and fluency.
The Gilbert School Special Services Vision Department is committed to meeting the needs of students who qualify for vision services based on a medical diagnosis of visual impairment.
Vision Services Program Phone: 480-497-3393