Regional Inclusive Services Program Makes Inclusive Education Possible (Photo) -04/03/23
HILLSBORO—The Regional Inclusive Services program provides training, technical tools and essential support to students and their teachers so that all schools, regardless of size or location, can instruct students in their home school, no matter how complex their disability. The public program is funded through the Oregon Legislature and federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act funds.
Oregon’s Regional Inclusive Services educators and specialists increase access and participation in the general education system. Their work includes:
- Teaching students skills for engaging at school, such as orientation with a cane, using assistive technology, reading braille, etc.
- Supplying specialized equipment to students, such as walkers, braille embossers, communication devices, or amplification systems.
- Teaching students advocacy skills so they have the confidence and knowledge to ask for what they need from their instructors.
- Supporting parents with strategies and tools they can use at home with their child.
- Delivering professional learning to educators who have children with disabilities in their classrooms.
Who does Regional Inclusive Services serve?
Statewide, the program supports 12,147 students alongside their families and educators.
- 9,184 students with autism spectrum disorder
- 774 students who are blind or visually impaired
- 72 students who are deafblind
- 1,503 students who are deaf or hard of hearing
- 1,090 students with orthopedic impairment
- 208 students with traumatic brain injury
This data comes from the Oregon Department of Education's December 2021 Regional Inclusive Services Census Report.
Student Perspectives
Jemma Bosotina, Third Grader
Harvey Clarke Elementary in Forest Grove School District
Caption: Jemma Bosotina, a third grader at Harvey Clarke Elementary School in Forest Grove stands in front of a painted mural of trees and grasslands in the fall of 2021. (Photo by Tracey Goldner)
What makes Ms. Carissa different from other teachers?
We talk about hearing aids. I tell her what’s wrong with my hearing aids. There are buttons and she helps me figure that out...I’m making something for my class – a Google slide about the different types of hearing aids. I can’t wait to show it to Ms. Carissa. The other kids, they ask me thousands of times about my hearing aids.
Sophia Dirks, Tenth Grader
Sherwood High School in Sherwood School District
Caption: Sophia Dirks, a tenth grader at Sherwood High School, sits in a conference room in the fall of 2022 and shares her experience receiving vision services from NWRESD. (Photo by Kelsey Cardwell)
“We’re still people. We still can do things by ourselves and live independently, but we need help learning to get there.”
After Sophia lost her vision at age 9 specialists taught her how to use assistive technology to complete school work and how to use a cane to navigate school and public areas. Most importantly, Sophia learned how to advocate for herself in the classroom and beyond.
Caption: Leslie, a kindergartener at Elmonica Elementary School in Beaverton, participates in the 100-meter dash on May 9, 2022. (Photo courtesy of the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes)
On May 9, 2022, students who experience blindness and other visual impairments laced up their sneakers and participated in a track and field meet. Leslie, a kindergartener at Elmonica Elementary School in Beaverton, raced in the 100-meter dash.
Read the full story: On Your Mark, Get Set, Go: Students with Visual Impairments Take to the Track After Two-Year Pandemic Hiatus
Caption: A line graph with a green line shows the rising number of students who need services and equipment through Regional Inclusive Services. A pink line shows the per-student funding decline over the years. The data starts in 2007 and goes through 2023.
Current Priorities and Legislative Requests
To catch up with overwhelming student need, the Regional Inclusive Services team urges lawmakers to prioritize the following requests.
- An additional $25 million from the general fund for the 2023-25 biennium.
- The review and implementation of recommendations from ODE’s Office of Enhancing Student Opportunities (OESO)SB 53 Legislative Report:
- Establish a funding formula and revenue stream that provides adequate and stable funding for the state’s most vulnerable children and students who experience low-incidence disabilities.
- Partner with state agencies and school districts to identify mechanisms to address staffing needs of educators who provide services to children and students with low-incidence disabilities
Regional Inclusive Services Team
- Columbia Regional Inclusive Services
- High Desert Ray Regional Inclusive Initiative
- InterMountain Education Service District
- Lane Education Service District
- Linn Benton Lincoln Education Service District
- Northwest Regional Education Service District
- South Coast Education Service District
- Southern Oregon Education Service District
- Willamette Education Service District
Northwest Regional Education Service District is the largest of Oregon’s 19 education service districts. It serves 20 school districts in Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook and Washington counties. These school districts serve 98,000 students. Through state funding, contracts, and private and public grants, the agency provides a wide range of special education and specialized services to students, educators and families in the region. Visit nwresd.org to learn more.
