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Article: Local Information

Local Guide to Education

Table of Contents

1. Local Guide to Education

FAQ
Legal Policy Issues Regarding Special Education
Teacher Education Requirements & Resources
Funding Education
Parents and School
Private Education
Public Education
Life After High School
Special Education
Learning Disabilities

Note: For more information regarding Education, read the Guide to Education and the FAQ: Education

Where do I begin if I believe my child needs special education services?
If you think that your child may need special education services, the first thing to do is to ask a lot of questions. The best person to start talking to is your school administrator who can refer you to the appropriate services. Public schools will also evaluate your child at no cost to you.

Talking with other parents who have children in special education programs can provide help and support. Local parent organizations are also good resources. For a listing of Hawaii disability organizations and advocacy groups go to the Special Parent Information Network of Hawaii at www.spinhawaii.org. SPIN Hawaii is an organization that provides information for family members of individuals with disabilities.

The website of the Department of Education in Hawai‘i provides information about special education in the public schools and how to obtain services. To connect with that webpage go to: doe.k12.hi.us/specialeducation.

Are special education services available to very young children?
Services for very young children are also covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Under Public Law 102-119, all public schools must offer special education services to eligible 3-5 year old children with disabilities. To find out about special education services for very young children in your area, contact your state Department of Education.

Hawai`i provides special education and related services for eligible preschool children (ages 3-5). For information on obtaining these services in Hawai`i go to: doe.k12.hi.us/specialeducation/preschoolsped.htm.

I received special education (IDEA) or 504 services in high school. How are these services different in college?
Colleges are required to provide any reasonable accommodation that may be necessary for equal access to education. They are not required to design special programs for students with disabilities or provide Individualized Educational Plans (IEP's). For a listing of accommodations in the University of Hawai`i system go to: www.hawaii.edu/askus/960.

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Legal Policy Issues Regarding Special Education

Hawai`i Protection and Advocacy Agency
The Hawai`i Protection and Advocacy Agency helps people with disabilities exercise self-determination and choice. They also advocate for the vigorous enforcement of legal, civil, and human rights.

Hawai`i State Department of Education Standards

In recent years many states have been establishing standards for core subjects. The Hawai`i Department of Education has also developed standards for each core area including:

• Career and Life Skills
• Educational Technology
• Fine arts
• Health
• Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Physical Education
• Science
• Social Studies
• World Languages

In accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, students with disabilities must be taught whatever all other students are being taught. They are also required to participate in all standardized testing. Accommodations (allowances) must be made to ensure that these students can meet the minimum standards. The challenge for state and local leaders is to provide accommodations for these students without giving them an advantage over other students.

In many states a separate set of standards have been written that includes accommodations for students with disabilities. However, in Hawai`i, no such standards exist and individual schools and teachers make allowances.

Hawai`i Department of Education
This site outlines specific standards for each subject area in elementary, intermediate, and high school.

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Teacher Education Requirements & Resources

Special Education Degrees

Hawai`i universities offer Special Education degrees. They include the University of Hawai`i at Manoa, Brigham Young University, Chaminade University and the University of Phoenix in Honolulu.

University of Hawai`i at Manoa
Brigham Young University--Hawai`i
Chaminade University

Senior Net
Senior Net is a nonprofit organization for adults aged 50 and over. It helps seniors who want to learn more about the Internet and computer technology. Individuals learn how to use the computer to communicate and access the Internet. There are two Senior Net learning centers on Oahu and two on Hawai`i.

Hawai`i Post-Secondary Educational Supports for Individuals with Disabilities
The University of Hawai`i system provides educational supports for individuals with disabilities on all of their campuses. These supports include: early registration, a faculty liaison, sign language interpreting, note taking, test-taking accommodations, special parking, books on tape, and financial aid assistance.

Secondary Transition Program-Hawai`i DOE
This webpage has contact and program information on transition programs in Hawai`i public schools.

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Special Education

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

Hawai`i Department of Education
This webpage from the Department of Education provides information on the different parts of the IEP and how the process is regulated.

Public Special Education in Hawai`i
Public Special Education is designed to meet the needs of students who have unique learning styles or needs. These students are provided with special educational services based on the requirements outlined in their Individualized Education Program (IEP). It also provides additional free services that are the right of every student with disabilities. Visit the site for more specific information about public special education and to know if special education is right for your child.

Special Schools

Hawai`i Center for the Deaf and Blind
The Hawai`i Center for the Deaf and Blind is a public school that specializes in education for those who are deaf, hard-of hearing, blind, partially sighted, or deaf-blind. The center provides education for preschool, elementary, and secondary students.

Jefferson Orthopedic Unit
Facilities at the Thomas Jefferson Orthopedic Unit include an orthopedic unit for handicapped children as well as standard classrooms. The school serves children in preschool to sixth grade.

Pohukaina
Pohukaina School is located in Honolulu. The school caters to special needs children in kindergarten through the age of 20. Their special education program focuses on students who need medical assistance.

Pre-school Education
The Department of Education in Hawai`i is required under the Felix Consent Decree, to provide special education preschool for all children with disabilities. For contact information on how to enroll your child in one of these programs go to Office of Curriculum, Instructional and Student Support

Programs The Hawai`i Department of Education has numerous programs to assist students with special needs. These programs range from ESL to Special Education programs.

Pihana Na Mamo-Native Hawai`ian Special Education Project
The Pihana Na Mamo-Native Hawai`ian Special Education Project is a program especially designed for children and youth of Hawai`ian ancestry with special needs. The project provides educational services that improve the educational outcomes of these children.

English for Second Language Learners (ESLL)
English for Second Language Learners (ESLL) is a program that assists students whose first or native language is not English. The program is designed to help students obtain the maximum benefit from their education in the public schools.

Comprehensive Student Support Center
The Comprehensive Student Support Center is a program that provides support for public schools in addressing the reasons that delay individual student progress. The program seeks to help students succeed by enhancing the school's academic, social, emotional, and physical environments.

Private Special Education

Special Parent Information Network (SPIN)
SPIN is a parent-to-parent organization in Hawai`i providing information, support and referral services to parents of individuals with disabilities. On their site you will find a list of private special education schools in Hawai`i.

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Learning Disabilities

Dyslexia
Central Processing Disorder
Autism

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a learning disability that often causes difficulty in reading, writing and spelling. It can also affect short-term memory, mathematics skills, concentration, personal organization, and sequencing. The causes of dyslexia are generally believed to be neurological in origin and the disability tends to run in families. Environmental factors may also cause this condition. Dyslexia is NOT a direct result of poor motivation, emotional disturbance, sensory impairment or lack of opportunities. It can occur at any level of intellectual ability or economic status. The characteristics of dyslexia can largely be overcome by using different learning strategies.

Hawai`i Dyslexia Association
Hawai`i has its own branch of the International Dyslexia Association. This site contains information on dyslexia. It also provides local resources and contacts for assistance.

Central Processing Disorder

Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) is not a hearing loss but a "physical hearing impairment" where individuals are unable to recognize or understand sounds. Audiologist Frank Musiek says that Central Auditory Processing Disorder is to the ears what dyslexia is to the eyes. CAPD affects the hearing system beyond the ear, preventing otherwise meaningful messages from being understood clearly.

The exact cause of CAPD is often unknown, yet it sometimes runs in families and could be the result of a head injury or severe illness.

It is common for individuals with CAPD to be misdiagnosed as having AD/HD (Attention Deficit Disorder) because the initial symptoms are similar. It is also common that CAPD can coexist with AD/HD.

State of Hawai`i Consumer Health Information Service
The State of Hawai`i Consumer Health Information Service has detailed information about CAPD. This site lists available resources including support groups.

Autism

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. It is a spectrum disorder that affects each individual differently and in varying degrees. It occurs in approximately fifteen out of every 10,000 births and is four times more common in boys than girls. The causes of autism are still unknown.

Symptoms of Autism include:

• Abnormal growth rate of physical, social and language skills
• Atypical responses to sensations
• Delayed speech and language
• Abnormal ways of relating to people, objects, and events

Autism is treated through different behavioral methods and medications.

Hawai`i Consumer Health Information Page
This webpage has a general overview on autism and resources in Hawai`i.

CARE Hawai`i
CARE Hawai`i has information about services in Hawai`i for individuals with autism.

Queens Medical Center
The Queens Medical Center in Honolulu has information about autism. It also provides local resources on autism on their website.

Hawai`i DOE Autism Program
This site describes what Hawai`i public schools are doing to better serve their students with autism.

Autism Society of Hawai`i
The Autism Society of Hawai`i was re-established in 1992 to help families attend to needs resulting from having family members with autism.

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Last Updated on 7/6/2012