Student Services

Welcome to the Juniata Valley Student Services Page. Below is a list of Special Education Services that the district Provides.

The Juniata Valley School District ensures, in its special education programs, that all students with disabilities have the right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE).  The district has high expectations for both its regular education and special education teachers in that they strive to ensure that special education students have access to general education curriculum and that they are included with their general education peers to the maximum extent possible. 

The Juniata Valley School District’s general education and special education teachers work together in co-taught classrooms in order to provide maximum support in the general education classroom and curriculum.

Description of Special Education Programs and Services

 Learning Support

Learning Support services are provided to students with a variety of disabilities based upon the individual student’s need .  This may include students with specific learning disabilities or mild intellectual disabilities. Students with other educational disabilities may also demonstrate a need for Learning Support and receive these services. Learning Support Services are based on student need and eligibility criteria. There are three types of Learning Support: Itinerant, Supplemental, and Full-Time. They type of service the student receives based on the student's academic needs. Learning Support services are available in both the Juniata Valley Elementary and Juniata Valley HIgh School. If a student qualifies for Learning Support Services some of the interventions they may receive are accommodations & modifications to the regular education curriculum, pre-teaching and re-teaching of concepts, an alternate curriculum, or direct instruction. 

The Juniata Valley School District has implemented a co-teaching model in order to provide students with disabilities. The classrooms consist of students with and without disabilities in order for special education students to participate fully with their general education peers and access the general education curriculum. Teachers within the Juniata Valley School District are trained on the 6 different models of co-teaching.

 Life Skills Support  

The Life SKills Support program serves students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities and students with multiple disabilities. These classrooms expose students to functional needs where they practice daily living skills, vocational skills, as well as functional academics. The Juniata Valley School District has a Primary, Intermediate, Middle School, and High School Life Skills program.

 Emotional Support

Students that have behaviors or emotional needs that interfere with their learning or the learning of others may be referred for emotional support services. The Juniata Valley School District offers Itinerant and Supplemental Emotional Support services at both the Elementary and High School. 

 Speech & Language Support

Speech and Language support is provided to students that may have impaired articulation or other communication disorders. The Speech and Language Pathologist also services students with language impairments. The SLP serves students in both the elementary and high school settings. These services are delivered on an itinerant basis and are free of charge to parents. 

 Autistic Support

 Autism is a developmental disorder of variable severity that is characterized by difficulty in social interaction and communication and by restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behavior. The Juniata Valley School District offers Autistic Support on an Itinerant, Supplemental, and Full-Time level. 

 Hearing Impaired Support Services 

A Hearing Impairment refers to an impairment in hearing, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects a child’s ability to access grade level materials and instruction. These services are provided on an itinerant basis and contracted with Tuscarora Intermediate Unit. The services are available at both the Elementary and High school levels.

 Visual Impairment Support Services 

Visual impairment including blindness refers to an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a child’s ability to access grade level materials and instruction. These services are provided on an itinerant basis and contracted with Tuscarora Intermediate Unit. The services are available at both the Elementary and High school levels.

 Multiple Disability Support 

Students with one or more disabilities which require intensive needs and service delivery qualify for Individualize Instruction under the disability category Multiple Disability. The IEP team will determine the best classroom for the student based on academic, behavioral, and social/emotional needs. 

 Other Related Services:

Occupational Therapy:

An occupational therapist may see your child if they qualify for their services based on an evaluation. Occupational Therapists help students with their fine and gross motor skills. They help students work on their visual perceptual skills, as well as sensory regulation.  The Occupational Therapist is contracted through Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11. This service is delivered free of charge, and available at both the Elementary and High School levels.

 Physical Therapy:

Children who have a disability or functional limitation that prevents them from engaging fully in the education system may qualify for Physical Therapy. The physical therapist is contracted through the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11. The service is delivered free of charge and available at both the Elementary and High School levels.

 Social Work Services:

School Social Workers are trained mental health professionals who can assist with mental health concerns, behavioral concerns, positive behavioral support, academic, and classroom support, consultation with teachers, parents, and administrators as well as provide individual and group counseling/therapy. The Juniata Valley School District as one School Social Worker. Based on evaluation your student may qualify for School Social Work services through their Individualized Plan. This service is delivered free of charge and available at both the Elementary and HIgh School.

Our Current School Social Worker is Stephanie Galloway-Maslanik

Psychological Services:

These services may only be provided by a trained School Psychologist. These services could include crisis prevention intervention services, planning and managing a program of psychological services, including psychological counseling for children; assisting in the development of positive behavioral intervention strategies; obtaining, integrating, and interpreting information about child behavior and conditions relating to learning. The School Psychologist also administers psychological and educational tests, and other assessment procedures and interprets assessment results. The Juniata Valley School District has one full-time school psychologist. Based on evaluation your student may qualify for School Social Work services through their Individualized Plan. This service is delivered free of charge and available at both the Elementary and High School.

Our Current School Psychologist is Leia Reynolds.

Other Services:

Assistive Technology Devices:

Assistive Technology (AT) is defined by The Individuals with Disability Education Improvement Act (IDEA, 2004) as " any item, piece of equipment or product system whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability. 

Who Uses AT: AT devices may be used by students with disabilities to increase access to the general education curriculum and help these students make progress toward their IEP Goals and Objectives.

The IEP team will determine if an AT device is appropriate for the each student. If appropriate the AT device will become part of the students IEP

The LEA will also ensure that students that qualify for AT devices have appropriate working hearing aids & external components of surgically implanted devices. See the attached procedure at the below link.

https://www.jvsd.org/userfiles/66/My Files/Process_Procedure for Hearing Aides_Etc.pdf?id=565