COVID-19 and Special Education

Overview

These Exceptional Student Services Unit (ESSU) webpages are continuously expanding to support educators who serve, and families of Colorado children with disabilities through the provision of Special Education-specific information and resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.

State & Federal Guidance

This section organizes guidance provided from the U.S. Department of Education, State Of Colorado Agencies including the CDE Exceptional Student Services Unit.

Special Education During
Covid 19

Learning Supports for Students With Disabilities

This section provides resources across a wide multitude of disability topics.

Learning Supports for
Students with Disabilities

Resources for Families of Students with Disabilities During COVID-19

This section provides access to resources for families and caregivers of children with disabilities, as they support their children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Resources for Families
of Students with Disabilities

Parent/Family
Frequently Asked Questions

Disability & Topic Specific Information

Serious Emotional Disability, Social Emotional Learning, Mental Health & Behavior

Remote Learning Resources for SEL, Mental Health and Behavior

Significant Support Needs

Significant Support Needs & COVID-19

Speech & Language

Speech & Language Resources

Transition Age

Providing Secondary Transition Services During COVID-19

Visual Impairment, Including Blindness

Visual Impairment, Including Blindness COVID-19 Resources

Top of Page

Virtual Office Hours

During this time of remote instruction, the Office of Special Education has been fielding many phone and email questions regarding how best to support the accessibility, behavior, learning, social-emotional, and transition needs of learners with disabilities. In response to requests from the field, the following office hours will continue throughout the summer, with all others resuming in the fall.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Mary Ann Fleury will be offering office hours in support of virtual IEP meetings.

Drop in to our Alternative Dispute Resolution Office Hours, every Tuesday, from 3:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. and ask your questions! We can also support you in using the tools/skills in your virtual IEP meetings. Office hours will resume August 31^st through May 31^st.

Join the ADR
Office Hours

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Brooke Carson will be offering ASD office hours on following Fridays from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM:

October 1, 8, 29
November 5, 12
December 3, 10, 17

Beginning in January 2022, ASD Office Hours will be offered on Fridays from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM.

Join the ASD
Zoom Meetings

Meeting ID: 932 1846 7451

Blind/Visually Impaired (B/VI)

Tanni Anthony will offer blind/visually impaired office hours on the following Wednesdays from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

September 8th & 22nd
October 6th & 20th
November 3rd &16th
December 1st & 15th
January 5th & 19th
February 2nd & 16th
March 2nd & 16th
April 6th & 20th
May 4th & 18th

B/VI
Registration

*Registrations must be completed by 10:00 a.m. the day before (Tuesday) each office hour session.

Brain Injury & Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

Heather Hotchkiss will host monthly office hours resuming in August. Office hours will be held at 9:00 AM on the fourth Tuesday on the following dates:

August 24, 2021 - August registration
September 28, 2021 - September registration
October 26, 2021 - October registration
November 23, 2021 - November registration
January 25, 2022 - January registration
February 22, 2022 - February registration
March 22, 2022 - March registration
April 26, 2022 - April registration

Registration is required for all Brain Injury & Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder office hour sessions.

School Based Mental Health and Special Education

Krista Klabo will be offering monthly office hours on Tuesdays from 8:00 - 9:30 AM.

Register for the School Based
Mental Health Meeting

Secondary Transition

Gail Lott will offer Secondary Transition office hours on the second Tuesday of each month from 3:30- 4:30PM on the following days:

November 9, 2021 - Transition Specialist Certificate
December 14, 2021 - Self-determination, self-advocacy, and student led IEPs
January 11, 2022 - PSO data discussion
February 8, 2022 - Guardianship and supported decision making with Jennifer Levin
March 8, 2022 - Family engagement and empowerment
April 12, 2022 - Equitable access to CTE programming for students with disabilities
May 10, 2022 - Critical reflection with transition service providers.

Transition Office Hours
Registration

Registrations must be completed by 10:00 am the day before (Monday) for each Tuesday office hours session.

Significant Support Needs

The Significant Support Needs Network Team and the Significant Support Needs Task Force Members will be offering SSN Office Hours during the 2021 School Year. Office Hours will be offered on the following Wednesdays from 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM:

August: 18, 25
September: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
October: 6, 20
November: 3, 17
December: 1, 15
January: 12, 26
February: 2, 16
March: 2, 16
April: 6, 20
May: 4