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Student Accessibility Services

The special services department is a collaborative team of educators that provides students with individualized, specialized instruction in order for students to access their highest academic potential and lead independent, fulfilling, meaningful lives.  

Special services are provided for students who have either an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan, and qualify under one or more of the following categories of disabilities: intellectual disability, emotional disturbance, orthopedic impairment, specific learning disability, visual impairment including blindness, autism, hearing impairment, other health impairments, speech or language impairment, multiple disabilities, traumatic brain injury, deaf-blindness and deafness.

Two specific programs are available to meet students’ needs:

  1. The ACCESS/Life Skills Program (Accessing Community, Careers, and Education through Successful Self-Determination) provides students with individualized support for academic and practical skills. The program focuses on areas of functional academics, self-care, daily living skills, independent living, community access, and job training and placement. Social competencies are also an important component. Perspective taking and emotional regulation are explicitly taught and embedded throughout daily instruction. By making specialized instruction available to students in every environment, the program balances the educational and extra-curricular opportunities at Burr and Burton with the necessary skills for students to become independent adults and contributing members of the Northshire region. 

  1. The Learning Center is for students on an IEP or 504 plan who need additional support to meet the academic, participation, and organizational expectations of regular education classes. Specialized instruction is provided through the Study Skills course. Study Skills teachers regularly collaborate with students’ classroom teachers; help students identify and understand their learning challenges; provide remediation in the areas of need; tutor in the content areas; teach specific basic skills, exam-taking skills, organizational skills, and advocacy, and help students develop strategies to manage behavior and social expectations. Specialized instruction is provided in the basic skill areas of reading, math, written expression, functional academics, executive function skills, and social-emotional development. In addition to Study Skills, identified special education students may take a core academic class at a modified level for credit through the Learning Center. Special education paraeducators are available for identified students who need assistance in their core academic classes.
Indirect services include consultation with classroom teachers, conferencing with parents, IEP development, management of students’ educational program, curriculum revision, and coordination with other professionals involved in the process of special education. Special education personnel work with other agencies’ personnel to facilitate the transition of students to college or other post-high school or employment opportunities.
 
The Special Services staff includes Vermont-certified special educators, a speech and language pathologist, an occupational therapist, paraeducators, and other related service providers.
  • ACC Study Skills

    Study Skills coursework will include developing social skills that help you interact with other people effectively. Interpersonal skills are considered soft skills, which include personality traits, people skills, and communication skills. Theories such as Zones, Social Thinking and Skillstreaming will be used as a guide for the coursework. Develop skills relating to self-awareness, stress management, efficiency, creativity, time management and career change. Independence as a goal.
  • Applied Academics

    Applied Academics: Practice in reading, written expression and math skills. 
  • Career Development

    Career Development is designed to give you a very early start on the process of career planning and development. The process involves thoughtful self-assessment, career exploration, planning and follow-through with preliminary employment strategies.
  • Classical History

    Classical History is a journey of learning beginning with the time period before written records to the early 1900's. Students will learn about civilization development, world empires, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and Reformation periods, plus the discovery of new worlds. 
     
  • Life Skills

    Life Skills coursework designed to increase student knowledge and skills necessary for everyday living. The course emphasizes goal-setting, decision making and problem solving, communication, healthy lifestyles and relationships, nutrition, personal safety, citizenship and consumerism. Independence. Self care
  • Practical Algebra

    Practical Algebra: 
    Learning how algebra relates to life activities. The use of algebra in the real world through word problems, life activities such as shopping for groceries, the use, maintenance, and cost of vehicles and houses, and many other life long math processes. 
     
  • Study Skills

    The Learning Center is for students on an IEP or 504 plan who need additional support to meet the academic, participation, and organizational expectations of regular education classes. Specialized instruction is provided through the Study Skills course. Study Skills teachers regularly collaborate with students’ classroom teachers; help students identify and understand their learning challenges; provide remediation in the areas of need; tutor in the content areas; teach specific basic skills, exam-taking skills, organizational skills, and advocacy, and help students develop strategies to manage behavior and social expectations. Specialized instruction is provided in the basic skill areas of reading, math, written expression, functional academics, executive function skills, and social-emotional development. In addition to Study Skills, identified special education students may take a core academic class at a modified level for credit through the Learning Center. Special education paraeducators are available for identified students who need assistance in their core academic classes.
  • Study Skills

    The Learning Center is for students on an IEP or 504 plan who need additional support to meet the academic, participation, and organizational expectations of regular education classes. Specialized instruction is provided through the Study Skills course. Study Skills teachers regularly collaborate with students’ classroom teachers; help students identify and understand their learning challenges; provide remediation in the areas of need; tutor in the content areas; teach specific basic skills, exam-taking skills, organizational skills, and advocacy, and help students develop strategies to manage behavior and social expectations. Specialized instruction is provided in the basic skill areas of reading, math, written expression, functional academics, executive function skills, and social-emotional development. In addition to Study Skills, identified special education students may take a core academic class at a modified level for credit through the Learning Center. Special education paraeducators are available for identified students who need assistance in their core academic classes.
  • Study Skills

    The Learning Center is for students on an IEP or 504 plan who need additional support to meet the academic, participation, and organizational expectations of regular education classes. Specialized instruction is provided through the Study Skills course. Study Skills teachers regularly collaborate with students’ classroom teachers; help students identify and understand their learning challenges; provide remediation in the areas of need; tutor in the content areas; teach specific basic skills, exam-taking skills, organizational skills, and advocacy, and help students develop strategies to manage behavior and social expectations. Specialized instruction is provided in the basic skill areas of reading, math, written expression, functional academics, executive function skills, and social-emotional development. In addition to Study Skills, identified special education students may take a core academic class at a modified level for credit through the Learning Center. Special education paraeducators are available for identified students who need assistance in their core academic classes.
  • World Investigations

    World Investigations offers an exploration of geography, culture, politics, religion, and world relations within our global community. Students expand their understanding of how and why nations work together, while gaining insight into a variety of challenges and possible solutions. 
     

Faculty

  • Photo of Beth McCoy
    Beth McCoy
    Student Accessibility Services, ACCESS
    Speech and Language Pathologist, Learning Center Coordinator
    549-8138
    SUNY Geneseo - Masters Degree
  • Photo of Kimberly Stedman
    Kimberly Stedman
    Advisors, Student Accessibility Services
    Director of Student Accessibility Services
    802-549-8128
    University of Vermont - M.S., CCC-SLP, CAGS
  • Photo of Wendy Adair
    Wendy Adair
    Student Accessibility Services
    Learning Specialist
  • Photo of Jef Amirault
    Jef Amirault
    Student Accessibility Services, ACCESS
    Paraeducator
  • Photo of Kristin Avison
    Kristin Avison '16
    Student Accessibility Services, ACCESS
    Paraeducator
  • Photo of Michelle Bonang
    Michelle Bonang
    Student Accessibility Services, ACCESS
    Occupational Therapist
  • Photo of Amy Crane
    Amy Crane
    Student Accessibility Services, ACCESS
    Paraeducator
    802-362-1775
    Culinary Institue Of America - AOS
  • Photo of Sarah DeLong Graf
    Sarah DeLong Graf
    Student Accessibility Services
    Learning Specialist
    802-362-1775
    Bloomsburg University - Masters
  • Photo of Jaclyn Doran
    Jaclyn Doran
    Student Accessibility Services
    Learning Specialist
    802-549-8171
    College of St. Josph - M. Ed
  • Photo of Lap-Ching Keung
    Lap-Ching Keung
    Student Accessibility Services
    Speech and Language Pathologist
  • Photo of Jennifer Lalor
    Jennifer Lalor
    Student Accessibility Services
    Learning Specialist
  • Photo of Kate Lawrence
    Kate Lawrence
    Student Accessibility Services, ACCESS
    Paraeducator, Athletic Dept. Assistant
    SUNY New Paltz - Bachelor
    University of New Hampshire - Masters
  • Photo of Kristi Lewicki
    Kristi Lewicki
    Athletics, Student Accessibility Services, ACCESS
    Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Coordinator
  • Photo of Katherine McAllister
    Katherine McAllister
    Student Accessibility Services, ACCESS
    Behavior Specialist
  • Photo of Peter McNealus
    Peter McNealus
    Advisors, Student Accessibility Services
  • Photo of Laura Molinelli
    Laura Molinelli
    Student Accessibility Services, ACCESS
    Paraeducator
    802-297-2662
    SUNY Oswego - BA
  • Lia Moreno
    Student Accessibility Services, ACCESS
    Access Paraeducator
  • Photo of Barbara Muench
    Barbara Muench
    Student Accessibility Services
    Learning Center Specialist
  • Photo of Laura Mullen
    Laura Mullen
    Student Accessibility Services, ACCESS
    Paraeducator
    802-362-1775
    SUNY Plattsburgh - BS Special Education
  • Photo of Ellen Murray
    Ellen Murray
    Student Accessibility Services
    Learning Specialist
    802-549-8169
  • Photo of Sarah Perry
    Sarah Perry
    Student Accessibility Services
    Associate Dean of Students & Student Life Coordinator
    802-549-8148
    Johson State College - Environmental Science BS
  • Photo of Chris Scudder
    Chris Scudder
    Student Accessibility Services, ACCESS
    Paraeducator
    St. Joseph's College - BA
  • Photo of Nancy Sheldon
    Nancy Sheldon
    Student Accessibility Services
    Learning Specialist
    802-362-1775
    Castleton University - BS PESPMD
    Castleton University - M.A. Ed - Special Education
  • Photo of Stephanie Smith
    Stephanie Smith
    Student Accessibility Services
    Learning Specialist
    Green Mountain College - B.S.
    Castleton State University - M.Ed.
  • Photo of Carol Sullivan
    Carol Sullivan
    Advisors, Student Accessibility Services, ACCESS
    Special Educator
  • Photo of Adam Tronsen
    Adam Tronsen
    Advisors, Student Accessibility Services, ACCESS
    Learning Specialist
  • Photo of Terry Tudor
    Terry Tudor
    Student Accessibility Services, ACCESS
    Paraeducator
    802-362-1597
    Business - VCU