Welcome to Training and Consultation (TaC)

Making a Difference in the Lives of Bucks County Students.

Provided by the Program and Training Specialists of the Bucks County Schools Intermediate #22

Program and Training Specialists:

• Offer technical assistance and support for local school districts in the implementation of school wide improvement and current best practices to accommodate all learners for lifelong learning.

• Support districts in their efforts for all children to access, participate and make progress in the general education curriculum.

• Provide training, consultation, and guided practice to enhance school districts efforts in building local capacity to meet the needs of all students.

• Assist local districts in the implementation of federal and state required initatives.

• Provide parent training and consultation at districts request.

• Utilize a problem-solving process to foster systematic change for students.

PDE Initiatives:

Transition

Transition coordination involves working with schooldistricts, individual schools, teams, families and agencies to developprocesses, programs, and opportunities leading to successful school andpost school experiences.

Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology Services are provided through the BCIU assistive technology team assisting educators, students and family members as they select,acquire, train and use assistive technology systems. The main areas of assistive technology covered by the team are: augmentative communication, writing tools/computer access, adapted switches,environmental controls, assistive listening equipment for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, and access technology for individuals with visual impairments.

Behavior Management

Behavior management has long been expressed as a priority need by educators. In order to build effective positive behavior supports in schools, it is important to focus on the interactive relationships between student behavior and the context in which it occurs. This is accomplished through a comprehensive systems approach which considers schoolwide, setting-specific, classroom-based, individual student environments and utilization of positive behavior techniques.

Interagency Coordination

A growing number of children and their families are in need of supportive services from various child-serving systems of Pennsylvania to be successful in school. Interagency Coordinators, based at intermediate units, work in collaboration with local school districts and County Child and Adolescent Services System (CASSP) coordinators to enhance access for families to inclusive and well-integrated services. The major emphasis is on using a collaborative, interagency approach to identify and coordinate appropriate community resources and services, resolve identified barriers to families’ access to services and engage community agencies to facilitate appropriate educational programming and placements.

Inclusive Practices/LRE

Technical assistance and support is available to school districts with regard to Pennsylvania and Federal regulations, standards, policies, and legal precedents affecting special education including Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), PA Special Education Regulations, IEP Development, Section 504 Service Agreements, Chapter 15 Protected Handicapped, PSSA/PASA, Inclusive Practices and Supplementary Aids & Services

Response to Intervention, Progress Monitoring, Reading, Math

Training and consultation is available to develop and implement a comprehensive multi-tiered intervention system to enable early identification and implementation of scientifically-based researched interventions for students at academic and behavioral risk. Technical assistance can be provided on universal screening and progress monitoring, the ongoing processes for collecting and analyzing data utilized for instructional decision-making which enhances schoolwide improvement.

The development of literacy skills and proficiency in mathematics is of paramount importance for all students; assisting teachers to modify and adapt curriculum to ensure optimal growth for all learners is a primary goal. Technical assistance is available in systematic reading and math instruction.

Autism

Autism is defined as a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication, social interaction,

and varied behavioral responses. Information and resources are available to assist school district staff and parents in providing effective programming for students with autism.

These may include:

• behavior plans • social skills training • assessment • IEP development • community education • curriculum adaptation

Quick Links

• PaTTAN
  

• Post Secondary Video
  

• Assistive Technology

• Post Secondary Expo Brochure

• CPI Training Request Form
  

Staff

Kelly Lambert, Supervisor

1-800-770-4822, ext. 1220, klambert@bucksiu.org

Bensalem                              Sarah DiMarino, ext. 2023, sdimarin@bucksiu.org

Bristol Borough                    Barbara Mazurek, ext. 1222, bmazurek@bucksiu.org

Bristol Township                  Alexis McCullough, ext. 2253, amccullo@bucksiu.org

Central Bucks                       Meredith Penner, ext. 2067, mpenner@bucksiu.org

Council Rock                       Regina Rausch, ext. 2398, amarton@bucksiu.org

Morrisville                           Alexis McCullough, ext. 2253, amccullo@bucksiu.org

Neshaminy                           Lorraine Johnson, ext. 2429, ljohnson@bucksiu.org

New Hope-Solebury            Lorraine Johnson, ext. 2429, ljohnson@bucksiu.org

Palisades                              Beth Swatsky, ext. 2399, eswatsky@bucksiu.org

Pennridge                            James Lill, ext. 2297, jlill@bucksiu.org

Pennsbury                           Danette Richards, ext. 1809, drichard@bucksiu.org

Quakertown                        Nancy George, ext. 2298, ngeorge@bucksiu.org

Non-public/Charter            Yona Diamond Dansky, ext 2890, ydansky@bucksiu.org

Assistive Technology         Bill Ziegler, ext. 1570, bziegler@bucksiu.org

Interagency Coordinator   Caryn Kadel, ext. 1102, ckadel@bucksiu.org