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The Itinerant Services program provides in-district service to students with hearing, vision impairments, as well as occupational and physical needs. CESA #4 staff members will work with school staff, families, and medical personnel to identify and address the needs of each student.
Direct service includes face-to-face teaching and evaluation or therapy provided to a student or in small groups. Indirect service includes testing, development of IEPs, attendance at IEP meetings, and consultation with school staff, families or medical personnel.
Service costs are based upon units of service (1 UOS=15 minutes). Estimated costs for each itinerant program area are based on current caseload and anticipated units of service for the upcoming school year. Itinerant Service are billed monthly beginning in September and costs will be recalculated throughout the year as more accurate caseloads are generated.
For more information contact:
Lillian Rider
Director of Itinerant Services
(608) 786-4853; Toll Free 1-800-514-3075
Fax: (608) 786-4801
lrider@cesa4.org
Jen Lorenz
Program Assistant
(608) 786-4840; Toll Free (800) 514-3075
Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH)
Educational Audiology
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Orientation and Mobility (O&M)
Physical Therapy (PT)
School Social Work
Visually Impaired (VI)
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher provides students with identified auditory handicaps with communication skills that will enable them to learn and develop appropriate academic and social skills to function in a public school setting.
Services for deaf and hard of hearing students include evaluation of hearing loss; selection, use, and maintenance of hearing aids and other amplification devices; instruction in sign language or aural communication; consultation with parents and school staff on communication needs; consultation on auditory screenings and direct instruction in academic skills in which specific forms of communication must be employed. The teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing works closely with local speech and language therapists in developing instructional plans that will maximize the student's development of communication skills.
For more information, contact:
- Kendra Brolsma, Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
(608) 786-4800; Toll Free 1-800-514-3075
kbrolsma@cesa4.org
- Melissa Carrie, Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
(608) 786-4800; Toll Free 1-800-514-3075
mcarrie@cesa4.org
- Robin Lilleskov, Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
(608) 786-4800; Toll Free 1-800-514-3075
rlilleskov@cesa4.org
- Michael Risch, Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
(608) 786-4800; Toll Free 1-800-514-3075
mrisch@cesa4.org
Educational Audiology
This service is designed to identify, assess, and provide treatment for students with a hearing loss. The educational audiologist uses a variety of instruments and methods to diagnose a hearing loss, recommends and evaluates hearing aids, FM systems, and other types of assistive hearing devices, and instructs teachers and students on the proper use of assistive equipment. The educational audiologist also fits and makes ear molds for hearing aids and tests for their effectiveness. The educational audiologist also screens preschool children during child development days as requested by school districts.
For more information contact:
- Tori Ashton, Au.D.
Educational Audiologist
(608) 786-4815; Toll Free (800) 514-3075
tashton@cesa4.org
- Erin Donlin, Au.D.
Educational Audiologist
(608) 786-4806; Toll Free (800) 514-3075
edonlin@cesa4.org
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy is a related service that is provided when an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) Team determines that a child has a disability and that therapy is required in order for the child to benefit from special educational programming. Occupational therapy is provided by a licensed therapist to evaluate the child’s functional skills in the area of self-care, academic, vocational, and play or leisure activities that occur in school environments and to make recommendations for school-based services. Treatment may include recommendations for assistive technology and environmental modifications, remediation of sensory/motor and visual perceptual deficits that impair function, and the use of purposeful activity to facilitate the child’s active participation in his/her special educational program. A school occupational therapist’s focus is on helping the child to acquire functional skills, using natural opportunities for the child to develop sensory/motor competence in integrated environments, and identifying strategies that school staff and parents can use in the child’s daily routines in order to help the child become more independent. Services include:
- Participation in the evaluation team process
- Preparing goals and objectives for the IEP
- Providing appropriate service to students based upon the IEP and medical prescriptions
- Instructing school staff and families in the delivery of activities to enhance the development of a child receiving therapy
- Consultation with school staff and families
For more information, contact:
Orientation and Mobility
Orientation and Mobility (O & M) training helps a blind or visually impaired child know where he is in space and where he wants to go (orientation). It also helps him be able to carry out a plan to get there (mobility). O & M specialists focus their training on such things as: sensory awareness, spatial concepts, searching skills, independent movement, sighted guide, Protective techniques, and cane skills, to allow the child to navigate his world efficiently, effectively, and safely.
For more information contact:
- Tim Bauman
Orientation and Mobility Specialist
(608) 786-4800; Toll Free 1-800-514-3075|
tbauman@cesa4.org
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is provided for treatment for muscle development, ambulation, and gross motor skills that enable students with physical disabilities to participate and profit from their educational program. Physical therapy is a "related" service that is provided to students with identified special education needs. Physical therapists also assist in selection of appropriate classroom equipment and provide consultation and instruction to school staff and parents on exercises and procedures for positioning and transfer that may be required.
For more information contact:
- Michelle Drucker Williams, Physical Therapist
(608) 786-4800; Toll Free 1-800-514-3075
mdrucker@cesa4.org
- Karla Proksch, Physical Therapist
(608) 786-4800; Toll Free 1-800-514-3075
kproksch@cesa4.org
- Lisa Rochester, Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA)
(608) 786-4800; Toll Free 1-800-514-3075
lrochester@cesa4.org
School Social Work
The Itinerant School Social Worker will focus on removing barriers that make it difficult for students to succeed in school by identifying, planning, implementing, and coordinating support services designed to help students and their families make the best use of community services.
- Laura Confer, School Social Worker
(608) 786-4800; Toll free 1-800-514-3075
lconfer@cesa4.org
Visually Impaired Program
CESA #4 operates a special education program to address the unique educational needs of students with visual impairment. Services are based on individual student need as reflected in the Individual Education Program (IEP). Direct instruction and/or consultation services may be provided in areas including: reading and writing Braille, compensatory skills, visual efficiency, pre-cane mobility, social skills, independent daily living skills, recreation and leisure skills, career education, and utilization of low vision devices and technology.
For more information, contact:
- Heidi Maurhoff, Teacher of the Visually Impaired
(608) 786-4800; Toll Free 1-800-514-3075
hmaurhoff@cesa4.org
- Jennifer Twite, Paraeducator-Vision Support
(608) 786-4800; Toll Free 1-800-514-3075
jtwite@cesa4.org
- Samantha Richardson, Vision Support
(Sparta)
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