Helping students with low incidence disabilities

We have high expectations for low incidence students. Low incidence refers to disabilities that occur in low numbers including Physically Impaired (PI), Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH), Blind/ Visually Impaired (BVI), Autism (ASD), Deaf/Blind (D/B), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Developmental Cognitive Disabilities (DCD), and Other Health Disabilities (OHD).

To help these students, Sourcewell provides access to highly qualified, licensed educators by sponsoring the Regional Low Incidence Project for the Minnesota Department of Education’s Regions 5 and 7.

The project offers Free, Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) within the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), and focuses on:

Coordination of regional low incidence planning committees
Strategic planning for each low incidence disability
Development of staff plans to address needs across disabilities (low and high) in the service area, as well as throughout Minnesota
Addressing common assessment and program needs across the region
Planning for consideration and use of assistive technology

Low Incidence staff also assist districts with compliance with new legislation, as well as provide training opportunities in those areas.

Regional Comprehensive System for Personnel Development

Sourcewell also funds the RCSPD project, which provides training for school districts in central and northwestern Minnesota. Regional staff work directly with state consultants to develop programs and offer training for educators, parents, administrators, and others who live or work with a child (or children) with a disability.

Programming focuses on:

Autism Spectrum Disorders
Gain a better understanding of the various levels of disability, assessment, identification, behavior, intervention, transition, etc.
Assistive Technology
Ensure educators understand and use technology to assist with student learning.
Competitive Grants
Allows special education directors, coordinators, and network teams an opportunity to request funds for training in a variety of disability areas. The grants are based on an annual plan and address identified needs throughout the two regions.

Additional funds are available for activities such as:

Regional Low Vision Clinic
Winter Camp for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students
ASL Skill Development
Lake Carlos Environmental Camp for Visually Impaired — see a video about the camp

Tools & resources

Regional Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) Project

With funding provided by a grant from the Regional Comprehensive System of Personnel Development, the Region 5 & 7 SLD (Specific Learning Disability) Project offers training and resources for SLD teachers, school psychologists, and speech clinicians around SLD criteria and Multi-Tiered System of Supports.

Physical & other health disabilities resources

The resources below may include links to nongovernment sites.