special needs students

Unity High School will make serious efforts to accommodate students with modest special needs. Many students with disabilities can be assisted to achieve parity with fully-functioning students with minor assistance and UHS wants to provide that assistance. UHS will attempt to identify a consulting professional to help devise strategies for accommodating students who need specialized or additional assistance. The goal of these efforts is to reduce or eliminate the effects of the disability so the students can participate and learn on parity with those around them at UHS.

UHS will evaluate individual education plans (IEP) when the students applies for enrollment. The school will make every accommodation that it can reasonably make. Following are examples of the kinds of accommodations that can readily be made:

  • Student listens to assigned reading by audio recording
  • Student is afforded additional time to complete assignments and tests
  • Student is allowed to take a test in isolation from other students
  • Student is allowed to hold a fidget
  • Student is allowed to deliver responses verbally when the norm is in written form, and/or vice versa
  • Student allowed to use large-print version of some texts

In addition to evaluating and overseeing the implementation of IEPs, UHS will attempt to work with the special education director in the school district, to help that person put together an accurate census of the special needs population, as required by the federal IDEA law (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). The information will be presented in exchange for fair consideration in the granting of funds to UHS to administer accommodations to its special needs students. UHS generally will not participate in school district programs requiring UHS students to be bused to other facilities.
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In the early years of the school, it is anticipated/hoped that separate funds can be raised from donors to cover the cost of a special needs consultant and any other staff designated to help with special needs students.