Additional Educator Resources

Adapted Physical Education (APE)

Adapted Physical Education (APE) - As a direct service, Adapted Physical Education is provided to students who have needs that cannot be adequately addressed in the regular physical education program. In addition to APE, other service delivery options include APE collaboration and APE consultation, specially designed physical education, modified physical education, and general physical education.

Affective Needs (AN)

Affective Needs - Within IDEA and ECEA as it relates to the provision of services for students with disabilities the need for affective support: social, emotional, and behavior is frequently referenced.

Affective Needs: Social, emotional and behavioral struggles are associated with many different IEP disability qualification categories including autism, hearing impairment, serious emotional disability, intellectual disability, multiple disability, OHI, and developmental delay. 

Behavior

Behavior - The Office of Special Education has identified research-based strategies and practices that support positive behavioral outcomes for all students. Implementation of effective strategies and best practices within a variety of host settings, improves school climate and student outcomes.

Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR)

The CEEDAR Center, funded by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), works with states to build the capacity of their personnel preparation systems to prepare teachers and leaders to implement evidence-based practices for students with disabilities. Visit the  Special Education Teacher Preparation Partnerships page to learn more about the CEEDAR project. 

Increasing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for Students with Disabilities

Increasing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - Belongingness occurs at the intersection of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Healthy educational systems seek to ensure all students, including those with disabilities, enjoy this experience.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a descriptive term (not a diagnostic term) used to describe a group of conditions or a range of effects caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol. These effects can include physical issues and difficulties with behavior and learning.

• Professional Development
• Public Service Announcements
• Resources

Instructional Accommodations

Instructional Accommodations - offers tools and suggestions for using technology for students with a disability to best access instructional context

Instructional Standards

Instructional Standards - educational trends related to standards-based instruction, accommodations, and classroom assessment for students with a disability

Literacy and Students with a Disability

Literacy and Students with a Disability - In order to meet the legal mandate that ALL students in grades K-3 be screened for an SRD, the Exceptional Student Services Unit, in collaboration with the Office of Literacy, has developed a Differentiated Pathways process. The Differentiated Pathways have been designed to include all students, even those who previously could not be assessed using one of the State-Approved READ Act interim assessments.

Mental Health

Mental Health - Mental health is a necessary component for the promotion of students’ developmental, social, and academic well-being.  Mental health does not necessarily mean the absence of some form of mental illness, but rather having the means and necessary skills to promote the ability to cope with challenges in life. (National Association of School Psychologists, 2017).

Multilingual Learners

Multilingual Learners - The appropriate referral, identification, and placement of learners who are Culturally and/or Linguistically Diverse is necessary to ensure students' civil rights as well as a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) aligned with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Preschool Special Education / Child Find

Preschool Special Education / Child Find - Preschool special education is a state and federal mandated program for three- and four-year-old children who meet state eligibility criteria for special education and are experiencing challenges in their learning and development.

Secondary Transition

Secondary Transition - The Secondary Transition is the process of preparing students for adult life after they leave high school and can be thought of as a bridge between school programs and the opportunities of adult life, including higher education or training, employment, independent living and community participation.

• Regional Secondary Transition Specialist Map
• Requirements
• Resources
• School to Adult Life

Special Education Guidance

Special Education Guidance - Guidance documents for areas related to special education.

Significant Support Needs (SSN)

Significant Support Needs (SSN) - Students with significant support needs are highly diverse learners with extensive needs in the areas of cognition and/or learning, communication, movement and social/emotional abilities. The individual may also have concurrent health, sensory, physical and/or behavioral disabilities.

• Professional Development
• Quality Indicators
• Resources

Technical Assistance Documents

Technical Assistance Documents - The Office of Special Education has provided technical assistance documents in a variety of areas.

Disability / Eligibility Categories

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Deaf-Blindness
• Developmental Delay
• Hearing Impairment, Including Deafness
• Infant/Toddler with a Disability
• Intellectual Disability
• Multiple Disabilities
• Orthopedic Impairment
• Other Health Impaired (OHI)
• Serious Emotional Disability (SED)
• Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
• Speech or Language Impairment (SLI)
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Visual Impairment, Including Blindness

Related Services

• Audiology Services
• Interpreting Services
• Occupational Therapy
• Orientation and Mobility
• Parent Counseling and Training
• Physical Therapy
• School Nursing and Health
• School Psychology Services
• School Social Work Services

Other CDE/State Links:

• ECEA Eligibility Categories Training
• Family, School and Community Resources and Support for supporting parents and children with disabilities
• Medicaid Extended School Health (MESH) Program
• Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS):
  • Colorado PBIS
• SWAAAC: State Wide Assistive Technology, Augmentative Alternative Communication