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COVID-19 Guidance

Maine DOE

Office of Special Services

Updated 4/15/2020

Agenda4/15/2020

• Introduction

• What's Next

– Continuing to work on scheduling a Zoom Meeting for

Related Service Providers

• Carrie Woodcock, Maine Parent Federation

• Updates

• Review Resources

Carrie Woodcock

Maine Parent Federation

http://mpf.org/

Chat Box Check In

Special Ed Teachers Tailor School for Each Student

from Afar During PandemicApril 7, 2020 Eesha Pendharker

Bangor Daily News • Emily Robinson, a Special education Teacher at

Vine St, School in Bangor

• Her home is now being used as an office for

her work and school for her two young children

• Every day she video conferences with her 11 students on her caseload.

• Recently a student gave her a virtual tour of his Lego collection and told her he missed seeing

her and all his friends at school.

• She tries to stay connected with the families and provide them with support because they do not have the independent work skills that most

General Education students have.

• Parents of two special education students report that the teachers are making a good effort to stay

in touch each day.

• Activities the teachers are using range from video

recordings, to having the student read to their stuffed animal, to using cards for math activities.

• To address parent questions, the school has set

up webinars with Andy Kahn of Eastern Maine Testing and Counseling.

https://bangordailynews.com/2020/04/07/

news/state/special-ed-teachers-tailor-school-for-each-student-from-afar-during-

pandemic/

Programs Aims to Meet Challenges of Distance Learning

for Visually ImpairedApril 13, 2020 Michael Kelly

Portland Forecaster• Teachers with Catholic Charities' Education Services

for Blind and Visually Impaired Children have been using a combination of technology and specialized equipment to help students with online learning.

• Working with students with visual impairments can be

particularly challenging at this time said Nancy Moulton, director of Catholic Charities’ Education Services for Blind & Visually Impaired Children

(ESBVIC) program.

• Amy Snow, a resident of Arundel, said the program has helped her son, Tyler, a second-grader at

Kennebunk Elementary School, who has bilateral anophthalmia and has been blind since birth.

• He received services from ESBVIC at school prior to the pandemic and now his teachers are all using

Braille accessible and technological accommodations for his instruction.

• It is important for students that are visually impaired to strengthen their auditory comprehension and now

is a good time to use audio books.

• Routine is important for kids and that is what is missing now. We are trying to keep that up as best as possible.

• Tyler’s face lights up when he hears his teachers

voice from ESBVIC!

https://www.pressherald.com/2020/04/13

/program-aims-to-meet-challenges-of-distance-learning-for-visually-impaired/#

He’s Performing Doorway Puppet Shows in a Crisis

Inspired by His Son Who Can’t SpeakMarch 26, 2020 Erin Rhoda

Bangor Daily News• Jesse Speed’s son Milo is in a wheelchair, can’t speak and

his legs are largely immobile due to Cerebral Palsy.

• Jesse uses puppets to interact with his son and Milo loves

the show! Jesse jokes with his son through the puppet and Milo gives him a smile. That smile is what inspires Jesse’s

puppeteering.

• Jesse uses many different voices for his puppets. The puppets have bright colors as Milo also has difficulty seeing.

• The puppets represent different dogs in their household. The voices Jesse uses are indicative of each dog’s personality.

Milo enjoys the show each night before bed.

• Jesse says that Milo has taught him so many life lessons

such as strength in the face of adversity and empathy. Hewhen he brings his puppet show to an audience of special

needs kids.

• However, lately that audience has been his local neighborhood. He visits a neighbor’s son, Parker. The puppet Edwin enjoys a conversation with Parker about

dinosaurs and then ends the visit with music and a jumping contest.

• Parker is left with a big smile on his face and a request for a visit tomorrow. The joy is mutual Jesse says, “There is

nothing more rewarding!”

https://bangordailynews.com/2020/03/26/

mainefocus/hes-performing-doorway-puppet-shows-in-a-crisis-inspired-by-his-

son-who-cant-speak/

Chat Box Check In

‘The best we can do right now’:Maine special education programs adapt to limits

caused by home schooling

https://www.pressherald.com/2020/04/13/the-best-we-can-do-right-now-

maine-special-education-programs-adapt-to-limits-caused-by-home-

schooling/

Chat Box Check In

Erin Frazier – State Director of Special Services B-20

Guidance: Tele-Health Services for Speech/Language

• Board of Speech, Audiology and Hearing Laws &

Rules have no guidance on teletherapy services.

• Prioritize student needs.

• Make every effort to meet “the intent” of the IEP.

• Do as much as you can.

• Always check with your own licensing board.

Erin Frazier – State Director of Special Services B-20Guidance: Re-evaluations

• Consider the following –

• In the case of re-evaluation, can eligibility be determined using existing data?

• Can instruments be utilized that do not require face to face administration?

• We encourage you if you can to work to conduct evaluations and maintain activities

during this period of extended alternative learning by the following:

• Conducting interviews

• Completing rating scales

• Completing file reviews

• Possibly conducting observations of virtual instruction (case by case basis)

• Pause timelines (not waive them) for:

• Initial evaluations – pause timeline for initiating an evaluation when request is

received; consider delaying obtaining parent consent until school based

instruction resumes

• Documentation is critical. Note all discussions regarding evaluations.

Use your professional judgement and prioritize the health and safety of yourself

and others when considering conducting evaluations. Be mindful of increased

anxiety, depression and the overall well-being of the student and their families

before commencing any activities.

Erin Frazier – State Director of Special Services B-20

Guidance: IEPs

• Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)

has indicated that if all students are receiving continued educational

opportunities then SAUs are not required to revise an IEP because

all students are receiving an alternate mode of instructional delivery

of the general education curriculum.

• Therefore –

• No need to conduct IEP meetings related to instructional

delivery method

• Focus on provision of supports and services

• If a parent or the SAU wishes to discuss the student’s continued

educational opportunity, there is flexibility to use other means of

conferring with one another

Erin Frazier – State Director of Special Services B-20

Guidance: IEPs

• If the team agrees to hold an IEP meeting, consider the following:

• Is having an IEP team meeting necessary?

• Will holding the meting affect the continued educational

opportunities being provided to the student?

• Will each team member be available and able to meaningfully

participate in the meeting?

• If the meeting is held telephonically or virtually, will each team

member have access to a private space?

• Is the virtual format you are using secure?

Erin Frazier – State Director of Special Services B-20

Guidance: IEPs

Remember –

• If there is a need to change the IEP, the parent and

SAU may agree to amend without convening an IEP

meeting

• Extend the IEP if it is not changing during the period

of alternative learning

• Document what you are doing.

Where do I go for Current Updates?

Maine Department of Education Special Services Website:

https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/specialed

State Director, Erin Frazier, has updated questions/answers, which

can be found in the Director's Corner on the Maine Department of

Education website:

https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/specialed/director

Where do I go for Current Updates?

Federal government documents:

OCR Fact Sheet (03/16/2020)

http://bit.ly/COVIDOCRFacts

FERPA Guidance (03/12/2020)

http://bit.ly/FERPA-COVID19

OSEP Guidance (03/21/2020)

Supplemental Fact Sheet

Disclaimer:

The links and websites shared in this

PowerPoint are for information and reference

only and are not endorsed in any way by the

Maine Department of Education.

Ongoing Resource List

Maine Parent Federation

http://mpf.org/

Maine PBIS: Courtney Angelosante, M.S., BCBA (UMAINE)

https://www.maine.gov/doe/sites/maine.gov.doe/files/inline-files/COVID-19%20PBIS_0.pdf

Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

https://michiganvirtual.org/research/publications/supporting-students-with-disabilities-in-k-12-online-and-blended-learning/

COVID-19 Resources for Educators and Families

https://www.secondstep.org/covid19support

Zones of Regulation

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lf1GJq_-

Yp6tVCLy5UTotbV0VyqpUUIq0cFa7YzpLc0/edit?ts=5e780acb

Zones of Regulation

http://www.zonesofregulation.com/index.html

Ongoing Resource List continued:

COVID-19 Online Learning Solutions Present Challenges for Students with Autism, ADHD

https://www.kunr.org/post/covid-19-online-learning-solutions-present-challenges-students-autism-adhd#stream/

/

Left Brain Buddha

https://leftbrainbuddha.com/10-fun-activities-that-teach-executive-functioning-kids-teens/

eSchool News

https://www.eschoolnews.com/2020/04/09/6-mental-health-resources-for-students-during-

the-coronavirus-pandemic/2/

Psych Central – Controlling Screen Time for Children with ADHD

https://psychcentral.com/lib/controlling-screen-time-for-children-with-adhd/

Nurture and Thrive Blog – 5 Steps to Calm and Centered

https://nurtureandthriveblog.com/five-steps-to-becoming-a-calm-and-centered-parent

PBIS

https://www.pbisworld.com/

Ongoing Resource List continued:

Resources and Ideas to Support Distance Learning

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lf1GJq_-Yp6tVCLy5UTotbV0VyqpUUIq0cFa7YzpLc0/edit?ts=5e780acb#heading=h.kk1966kbedef

ERIN OAKids – Autism Services – ABA for Families

https://www.erinoakkids.ca/ErinoakKids/files/51/515c37a7-fed0-4f5a-913b-4f658fb56335.pdf

Possible Interventions for the Function of Escape/Avoidance/Delay

https://insidehoosieracademies.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/interventions-for-escape-avoidance-behaviors1.pdf

Firefly Kids

http://www.fireflykids.org/storage/resource.library.docs/ENG.resource.library/ENG.Autism/kt.02.11.asd.behavior.eng.pdf

NASDE Online Virtual Learning for Students with Disabilities

https://zoom.us/rec/play/7JMqcLusqDk3Hd3BsQSDUPIrW9S4e_2sgCUe-voJmkjmASYAZgKnMOdGYuv2o7ItYjBjWB0kkU4rNG2a?continueMode=true

Remember...

Please know that MDOE is here to support you and that we

will continue to provide you with the most updated

information as we receive it.

Yoga Nidra Meditation for better sleephttps://insighttimer.com/jenniferpiercy/guided-meditations/yoga-nidra-

for-sleep

Maine DOE is offering Contact Hours for each

Special Services Zoom meeting you view.

Please follow these steps:

1. Email Leora Byras at leora.byras@maine.gov on Friday with the

codes for each Zoom meeting you viewed.

2. You can go back and watch prior Special Services Zoom

meetings.

3. Allow at least 5 business days to receive your certificate of

participation.

Code for Contact Hours

- HBDColette415

Contact InformationAnn Belanger – Deputy Director for Special Services

ann.belanger@maine.gov

Roberta Lucas – Federal Programs Coordinator

roberta.lucas@maine.gov

Leora Byras – Special Education Consultant

leora.byras@maine.gov

Anne-Marie Adamson – Special Education Consultant

anne-marie.adamson@maine.gov

Colette Soldati-Sullivan – Special Education Consultant

colette.soldati@maine.gov

Who’s Who at MDOE• Pender Makin – Maine State Commissioner of Education

• Erin Frazier – State Director of Special Services B-20

• Ann Belanger – Deputy Director for Special Services

• Roberta Lucas – Federal Programs Coordinator

• Mary Adley – Coordinator of State Agency Programs and Special Projects

• Roy Fowler – State Director Child Development Services

• Barbara McGowen – Finance Coordinator

• Shawn Collier – Data and Research Coordinator

• David Emberley – Due Process Consultant

• Tracy Whitlock – Special Education Consultant/Special Projects

• Colette Sullivan – Special Education Consultant

• Leora Byras – Special Education Consultant

• Anne-Marie Adamson – Special Education Consultant

• Colene O’Neill – Secretary Specialist

• Julie Pelletier – Secretary Associate