Do you have a child with special needs? Multiple programs in Ada County can help
Approximately one in 10 children enrolled in the West Ada School District — Idaho’s largest — benefit from at least one of the district’s special-needs programs, according to data provided by the district. Across the district’s 55 schools, that’s approximately 3,930 students.
It’s a figure that puts into the spotlight the number of children living with disabilities in Ada County, and it’s an issue that the county, associated organizations and multiple school districts have tackled head-on.
Since the Americans with Disabilities Act became law in 1990, officials say they have made a commitment to not only to follow the law, but also to provide appropriate aides and services, such as sign language interpreters and having documentation in braille.
The Idaho State Independent Living Council lists a variety of available services, but for parents who have children with special needs, finding programs that help can be a challenge.
Here are some programs and services.
School district programs in Boise, Ada County
All three school districts in Ada County — West Ada, Boise and Kuna — offer early childhood special-education services.
Special Services at West Ada: The West Ada School District Special Services program offers help for children 3 and older, and for adults up to age 21. The program offers services that fall under the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, such as access to speech and language pathologists, physical and occupational therapists, and other assistive technologies.
Early Childhood Special Education: The Boise School District’s ECSE program provides services to children 3-5 who qualify for special-education services. The program, which runs through the Madison Early Childhood Center, helps children improve their social, emotional, cognitive and other skills in a classroom setting.
KSD Special Education: The Kuna School District offers multiple programs. Like The Boise School District, it offers an ESCE program at Hubbard Elementary School, and resource rooms are available at all Kuna schools. The Therapeutic Learning Center places children in a general education setting with a paraprofessional on hand to intervene if needed.
The TLC program is available at Crimson Point Elementary, Kuna Middle School and Kuna High School.
Lee Pesky Learning Center
The Lee Pesky Learning Center, located at 3324 Elder Street in Boise, provides support to children with learning disabilities, as well as educators and researchers wishing to help those children.
For children, the center offers help with the many academic challenges, such as reading and writing comprehension, and math and studying skills. For teachers and researchers, the center offers courses such as implementing daily literacy routines and how to teach math to all students in pre-kindergarten settings.
The learning center’s website also offers links to online resources for early childhood and K-12, such as audiobooks to help struggling readers and resources to help students who struggle with literacy-related conditions such as dyslexia.
FYIdaho and Youth MOVE Idaho
Two sub-groups of the Idaho Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, FYIdaho and Youth MOVE Idaho, focus on programs that uplift youth peer support and advocacy.
FYIdaho provides resources for parents and caregivers, such as a family support line that helps parents get connected to services for their children, alerts caregivers to upcoming events and provides resources on navigating Idaho’s system of care.
Youth MOVE Idaho is a youth-driven advocacy group that provides a space at the Boise Brick House for high school-age students to relax with friends, and discuss mental health and wellness. The program also offers Youth MOVE Young Adults, which offers a similar program to Youth MOVE Idaho but for people up to the age of 24.
Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Located at 341 W Washington Street in Boise, the commission offers pre-employment transition services for students 14 to 21. The Pre-ETS program helps students prepare to transition from life as a high schooler to postsecondary education or employment.
The program focuses on workplace readiness training and job exploration counseling, and also offers summer work experience programs and the College Days program, which prepares students for college.
Idaho Assistive Technology Program
The Idaho Assistive Technology Program has annual limited funds to provide students with disabilities with a refurbished home computer at no cost. Students who qualify must be in a public school in grades K-12 and must have an Individualized Education Plan.
Parents can apply for a computer online and applications must also include an essay or a drawing from the student explaining why they want the computer and how they will use it. Although this program is headquartered in Moscow, students in Ada County are eligible to apply.
Special Olympics Idaho
Sports can be one of the best options to provide individuals with disabilities a way to “develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship,” according to Special Olympics Idaho.
Special Olympics Idaho offers both children and adults the chance to compete in 16 sports throughout the year, including football and basketball, track and field, and powerlifting. In Ada County, athletes can check out the Boise Special Olympics Lions Club or visit the Special Olympics Idaho building in Garden City at 199 E. 52nd Street.
Athletes can also get involved with the Challenged Athletes Foundation, which helps provide equipment and opportunities. The foundation provided off-road wheelchairs last year to three children to help them explore Idaho trails they previously could not access.
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