Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)
The Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) within the State Education Department (SED) is charged with meeting the needs of people with disabilities from early childhood through adulthood and into the workplace. VESID oversees special education services for students, ages 3-21, in public and private schools and the vocational rehabilitation services for individuals, beginning at age 16 through adulthood.
VESID offers access to a full range of services that may be needed by persons with disabilities through their lives. Through its administration of both the special education and vocational rehabilitation programs, VESID coordinates policy and services relating to:
· transition services for infants and toddlers with disabilities (ages birth to two years);
· special education services for students with disabilities (3-21);
· transition services for students with disabilities from school to adult services;
· vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities, ages 16 and older; and
· independent living services for adults with disabilities.
Further information on VESID can be found at http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/
· District Offices for Adult Services
VESID believes all persons with disabilities can benefit from vocational rehabilitation services and should have opportunities to work in jobs integrated within their communities. VESID Counselors located at the District Offices across the State guide individuals through service programs they need to reach their employment goals. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/do/home.html
· Special Education Quality Assurance (SEQA) Offices for students with disabilities
SEQA oversees preschool and school-age special education services through a quality assurance review process that emphasizes attainment of positive results for student with disabilities. Regional Associates, located in several regional offices across New York State, coordinate the review process and also provide technical assistance to parents, school district personnel, and private providers. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/quality/home.html
Resources for Special Education Teachers
Every student is entitled to a quality education. VESID provides many resources to help teachers ensure that students with disabilities receive the highest quality education and receive the rights and protections they are entitled to and assure appropriate continuity between the child and adult services systems.
The following are links to online resources for teachers of students with disabilities. For the most recent announcements related to Special Education, please see http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/timely.htm
Alternate Assessment
The New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) is a part of the New York State Testing Program. It is a datafolio-style assessment in which students with severe cognitive disabilities demonstrate their performance toward achieving the New York State learning standards. Eligibility for participation in NYSAA is determined by the Committee on Special Education (CSE) according to criteria described in the Teacher’s Guide and other materials listed on our web. Student performance is recorded through direct observation and documentation and may include other information such as student work products, photographs, audio and videotapes. Students must be assessed once a year beginning in the school year they become 10 years old through the school year they become 15 (grade equivalents 3-8) and during the school year they become 18 years of age (high school). http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/alterassessment/home.html
Assistive
Technology
The Technology Resources for Education (TRE) Center is a co-sponsored project of SED, VESID and the Albany,
Schoharie, Schenectady and Saratoga BOCES. The TRE Center continues to develop
the "Guidelines for Assistive Technology for Service Providers in New York
State." These guidelines will help districts provide students with
disabilities with access to learning technologies and ensure compliance with
federal mandates for Assistive Technology. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/lsn/tre.htm
Autism
For a listing of publications and resources related to the education of students with autism, go to http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/autism/home.html
Bilingual Education And Students With Disabilities
· The Bilingual Special Education Resources Network provides staff development, technical assistance and tuition assistance for teachers working with children and pre-K through grade 12 students with disabilities who speak a language other than English. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/lsn/bilingual/home.html
· Key Issues in Bilingual Special Education Work Papers were developed by VESID to provide technical assistance to school district personnel on issues related to bilingual special education. The Work Papers are meant to be an introduction to topical issues and include a two-page overview of the issues and are accompanied by an additional document to supplement the topic and to provide citations for future investigation. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/lsn/bilingual/trainingindex.htm
Blind & Visually Impaired
The New York State Resource Center for Visually Impaired provides assistance to
support students who are blind and visually impaired in achieving high
standards of learning and independence. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/lsn/visual.htm
Committees On Special Education
Process to Practice: A Quick Reference Guide for Committee on
Special Education (CSE) Chairpersons This publication is
a reference guide for CSE Chairpersons and is designed to assist in the
day-to-day responsibilities of working with CSEs, provides assistance with
administrative functions and is intended to provide a framework for regional
training programs.
http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/persprep/cse/home.html
Data
Strategic Evaluation Data Collection, Analysis and
Reporting (SEDCAR) Unit of VESID is responsible for data collection, analysis,
and reporting to meet federal and State requirements for special education and
vocational rehabilitation. SEDCAR analyzes data to evaluate the State’s
progress toward accomplishing the Department’s strategic goals for individuals
with disabilities. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/sedcar/
Deaf, Hard Of Hearing, and Deafblind Services
· Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services provides information and services for children and adults about deafness, deafblindness, and hard of hearing issues. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/lsn/deaf.htm
·
The New York State Technical Assistance Project
(NYSTAP) Serving Children and Youth Who Are Deafblind will provide
technical assistance and other services to staff in agencies and schools and to
families of children and youth who have sensory impairment.
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/centers/nystap/detail.asp
(Link to Disclaimer)
Discipline Procedures
Discipline Procedures for Students with Disabilities provides technical assistance regarding the discipline of students with disabilities. This publication provides guidance based on interpretations of federal law as of January 2001. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/policy/discipcover.htm
Effective Practices
· Effective Practices – This site offers access to effective practices that can help districts to learn from each other and assist each other in improving their practices and/or procedures that result in improving the performance and achievement of students with disabilities. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/effective/home.html
· Effective Practices in Instructional Programs for Students with Disabilities - This link provides access to information on seventeen schools with effective practices in instructional programs for students with disabilities identified by VESID in 1999-2000. Each of the selected schools demonstrated instructional practices based on research and/or solid evidence that illustrate the effectiveness of the instructional program or practice. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/effective/effecipp.html
· The Systems Change Project is a collaborative effort of VESID and Syracuse University's School of Education, Teaching and Leadership Division This site provides a listing of schools with effective programs of inclusion of students with disabilities, including secondary school students and students with emotional disabilities. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/effective/effecinc.html (Use “Explainer” for USNY Partners here)
Publications
· A complete topical listing of publications related to special education issued by VESID is available. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/topiclist.htm
· Vocational Rehabilitation Publications: http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/publications/vrpubs.htm
· Independent Living Center Publications: http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/lsn/ilc/toolbox.htm
· The Lifelong Services Network (LSN) works to improve outcomes for children, students and adults with disabilities by increasing coordination, communication and cooperation between members. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/lsn/home.html
· Special Education Training and Resource Centers (SETRC) SETRCs provide coaching and technical assistance to school districts based on the district’s needs. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/lsn/setrc.htm
Teacher Preparation
· New York Higher Education Support Center (HESC) for Systems Change is a VESID initiative that is committed to developing and supporting high quality teacher preparation programs and professional development efforts. This site provides information about opportunities for learning and interaction, publications and scholarly resources, news releases about legislation and regulatory changes, announcements of conferences and upcoming events, information regarding job opportunities in higher education, information about teacher education programs and links to relevant sites. http://www.systemschange.syr.edu/hesc/index.php
(This site is supported by VESID – no explainer or disclaimer needed)
Testing Accommodations
·
Test Access & Accommodations for Students
with Disabilities: Tools to Guide Decision-Making. This publication
provides members of the Committee on Special Education/Section 504
Multidisciplinary Team, principals, teachers, parents and students with a
variety of tools and suggestions for consideration when determining appropriate
testing accommodations for individual students with disabilities. This document
is intended to be used in conjunction with additional policy documents.
http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/policy/testaccess/guide.htm
·
Test Access and Modification for Individuals With
Disabilities - 1995 (Includes addendum - Administration of State
Examinations Over Multiple Days - March 2005). This publication provides SED
policies and information regarding test access and modification.
http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/policy/testaccess95.htm.
Transition Services
· Transition Coordination Sites (TCS) provide information to assist with the implementation of transition planning and services statewide. The Sites can help to coordinate existing resources and provide information, training and technical assistance on transition related topics for those involved in the planning and provision of transition programs and services. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/transition/tcslist.htm
· Transition Services: A comprehensive resource on services to help secondary students with disabilities to prepare for post school employment, community living and postsecondary education. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/transition/
Working With Parents
· Resolving Concerns About Your Child’s Special Education Services: Updated June 2004. For parents – the process of working with schools and teachers to address their concerns about their student’s education, including mediation, impartial hearings, and appeals. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/policy/dueprocessbroch.htm
· Parent Centers: Programs and services provided for parents/families of children with disabilities by parent centers located in New York City, Long Island and Buffalo. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/lsn/parent.htm
Other
· A listing of various additional resources related to Special Education and students with disabilities. http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/resources.htm
· Retention and Disposition Schedules for use by school districts, BOCES, county vocational and education and extension boards, and Teacher Resource and Computer Training Centers. (1997) http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/nysaservices/ns_mgr_pub_ed1.shtml