Program for Students with Physical and Health Disabilities

Files designated with

open with the free Acrobat® Reader®:

Email questions and comments regarding the content and function of this website to webmaster@sandi.net.

Email general district inquiries to communications@sandi.net.

Email employment inquiries to jobs@sandi.net.

Submit staff questions about email or computer issues to the IT helpdesk.

Special Education Programs Division
Program for Students with Physical and Health Disabilities


•	Overview
•	Referrals & Eligibility
•	Programs and Services
•	Transition Resources for Adult Community Education (TRACE)
•	Contact Information

Overview

The program for students with Physical and Health Disabilities (PH) provides services for students with orthopedic or other health impairments that are established by the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).

The goal of the PH program is to provide an instructional program, as defined in each student’s IEP, that reflects specially designed instruction to provide access to the district’s curriculum, based on the state standards, as well as supplemental curriculum that leads to a diploma, letter of recognition.
Student needs can be met in a variety of settings with:

Physical modifications and equipment to support participation in the educational program;
Modifications/accomodations to the curriculum based on physical needs; and
Specialized assistive technology.

Referrals & Eligibility
Referral for PH services may be made by a Diagnostic Resource Teacher (DRT), parent, medical professional, school staff, or agency when:

A medical diagnosis, verified by a physician, indicates a physical or health disability that could affect a student’s educational performance;
School nurses receive medical information about a student that necessitates an evaluation; and
A parent or school staff, through observation, has concerns that a student manifests specific behaviors possibly related to a physical or health disability.

Educational and medical evaluations determine if a student’s physical disability health improvement adversely affects support services.

To be eligible for the PH Program students must have a diagnosed medical condition that impedes their ability to perform educationally or requires modifications and specialized training. Such diagnoses include, but are not limited to:

Cerebral Palsy	Spina Bifida	Muscular Dystrophy
Cystic Fibrosis	Sickle Cell Anemia	Diabetes
Cancer	Severe Asthma	Traumatic Brain Injury

Referrals may be directed to the Low Incidence Program Office at (858) 490-8451.

Programs and Services
The PH Program offers the following options:

Itinerant Program: Students are enrolled in general education or other special education placements and receive educational support from Physical and Health-credentialed (PH-) teachers, and when required, a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) or Special Education Technician (SET) and Special Education Itinerant Nurses (SEIN).
Resource Room Program: Students are enrolled in general education classes located at select elementary, middle, and high school campuses where they receive on-site support from a PH-credentialed teacher.
Special Day Class Program: Students receive intense instruction about the use of assistive technology. Placement is determined only after a review of medical documentation, identification of the educational implications of the disability and completion of the IEP.

Support is provided at all levels of transition, between grades and from school to career.

Transition Resources for Adult Community Education (TRACE)
TRACE is based on the philosophy that every student, regardless of the severity of his or her disability, is capable of living, working, and participating in his or her community.

TRACE is a non-categorical transition program for young adults with disabilities, 18-22 years of age, without a high school diploma. This is a community-based program for students as they transition from public school to adult life as mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It is key in the development of Individualized Education Program (IEP) and Transition Plan (TP) goals across the life domains which include vocational, recreation/leisure, self-advocacy, domestic, community, and adult education.

TRACE uses a person-centered planning approach, ensuring students are connected to lifelong opportunities and supports within the community. TRACE was developed in cooperation with nationally-recognized scholars in the field of transition services.

Contact Information

Special Education Programs Division
Programs for Students with Physical and Health Disabilities
Special Education Administration Program Support Satellite, B-3
4435 Ute Drive
San Diego, CA 92117
(858) 490-8451 - Phone

>> Special Education Programs Division