The virtual special education program at SCVi/iLEAD is being recognized after the charter school in Santa Clarita, along with schools nationwide, was forced to make a sudden transition to distance learning as a result of school closures caused by the coronavirus.
A spotlight was placed on SCVi/iLEAD in a recent article by LAist for expanding the specialized therapies already available in its existing home-study special education program for special needs learners who had been receiving their therapies in person before the pandemic.
These therapies, called “related services,” can include speech and language therapy, adaptive physical education, behavioral therapy, counseling, audiology services and more, according to the LAist article.
“Ensuring students can still receive these specialized therapies … through distance learning is a challenge that goes beyond getting every student a laptop and an internet connection,” the article stated. “But if you’re wondering whether it’s even possible to offer hands-on services … over the internet, (iLEAD Founder and CEO) Dawn Evenson said the answer is yes.”
SCVi/iLEAD’s home-study program was home to about 400 learners with disabilities prior to the public health crisis, and many of these learners were already receiving virtual related services, according to the LAist article.
With family members who act as occupational therapists, Evenson noted in the LAist article that sessions often utilize common household items that parents can easily find upon the therapists’ request as needed.
For instance, an SCVi/iLEAD occupational therapist was able to help a learner with their fine motor skills recently by asking the parent if she had a colander and pipe cleaners in her kitchen, which she did, according to LAist.
“For years, my mom was dragging things out of the house or into the kitchen to work with her patients in person,” Evenson said to LAist. “Now that they’re doing this virtually, the parents are finding out. To me, … that’s better.”
Amber Rogers, who oversees special education at SCVi/iLEAD, added, “There’s always a way.”