Program Description:

Intermediate District 917 Teachers for Students with Physical and Health Disabilities (PHD) serve students ages birth to 21 in early childhood, general education, and transition settings throughout many Dakota County school districts.  The service delivery model is primarily a consultative model designed to address a student's needs through modification to the instructional techniques and curricula used by the student's direct service providers.  PHD-licensed teachers consult with the student's general and special education teacher(s) and other related personnel serving the student.  The model allows students with physical and health disabilities to function and reach their full potential in the general education and/or other instructional environments.

Services Provided:

In a consultative model, PHD teachers work as part of a multi-disability team and are responsible for conducting assessments to establish eligibility for services and to identify programming needs; making recommendations for and facilitating the use of assistive technology, software and other adaptive materials/ equipment; providing on-going academic  adaptations and modifications to make curriculum accessible; advising on environmental adaptations; monitoring students’ work production, study skills and functioning in relation to classroom work and expectations; and, providing inservice to staff.

Direct service is provided by PHD-licensed teachers in the areas of assistive technology, work completion, organizational skills, and modification and/or adaptation of classroom activities.  Academic content areas (e.g. math, reading, science and social studies) are typically taught by teachers in the local district as part of a multi-disability team teaching model.

Before a learner enters an early childhood or school setting, services from a PHD-licensed teacher may encompass assistive technology consultation to teams to link learners’ assistive technology to developing pre-academic and school readiness skills.

For further information contact Assistant Director Kitri Kyllo at 952-707-3091