Specialist Assessments
In order to verify the recommendation for testing by a specialist the school assessments together with the ILP and observations from all parties involved will build the basis for the recommendation.
The reason ISS may ask for specialist assessment is to gain insights on how to help a student learn best. Specialists usually give detailed reports and recommendations which will be incorporated into our ILPs and shared with relevant teachers to accommodate the student's needs. The LS team would highly appreciate the sharing of test results to provide the best support possible.
Specialist assessments could be undertaken by an
Optometrist and hearing specialist
Basic hearing and sight tests are part of our standard recommendations to eliminate physical difficulties as a reason for learning difficulties. Those tests can be done by the child's pediatrician or at the children's ward at CWM.
Pediatricians
Pediatricians are able to do hearing and sight tests. They also diagnose ADD/ ADHD and recommend treatment strategies.
Occupational therapist/ Educational Psychologist/ Neuro-cognitive Specialist
The actual testing for a learning disability or IQ can only be done by a specialist not by the LS teachers. There are currently no educational therapists or child psychologist available in Fiji, but can be sourced in NZ, Australia, USA or Asia by the parents.
Speech therapy
Through cooperation with the University of Maine, USA, we are able to offer online speech therapy assessments and lessons. The specialists are hired by the parents.
The University of Maine offers telepractice speech therapy session as a video conference via webex.com. The computers are linked, so that both parties see and work on the same screen (desktop sharing). Pictures, word documents, internet games or any digital material can be pulled up and be used by both parties at the same time interactively. Parents can join sessions from a computer at home/work as long as they have internet to see what the child is doing, talk to the therapist and get information about what to do at home.
The University of Maine has agreed to work with our school and has offered four places in their program. Times are scheduled individually in the mornings. The LS- department in Primary has the equipment that is needed and will provide an e-helper for these classes.
The cost of the program in American Dollar is $71 per 60 min therapy session. Diagnostic evaluation costs $175. Bills would have to be paid monthly by the parents using a credit card.
School Counsellor
ISS employs a school counsellor. Students may use this service only with the permission of the parents. Recommendation for this service will be based on observations from all parties involved (classroom teacher, LS teacher, parents...).
Personal Coach
ISS is an inclusive school. Students with special needs (Tier 3) are based in our inclusive mainstream classroom but may require special skill training and/or a personal coach.
If students require a one on one teacher support on a daily basis, the school will provide a personal coach via extra funding from the parents or their organisations. Funding will not be provided by the school. An Individual Learning Plan (ILP) will be developed by the learning support teacher in collaboration with the personal coach, classroom teacher, parents and student considering the findings of any specialist assessments and based on the individual needs of the student.
The reason ISS may ask for specialist assessment is to gain insights on how to help a student learn best. Specialists usually give detailed reports and recommendations which will be incorporated into our ILPs and shared with relevant teachers to accommodate the student's needs. The LS team would highly appreciate the sharing of test results to provide the best support possible.
Specialist assessments could be undertaken by an
- Optometrist and hearing specialist
- Pediatrician
- Occupational therapist
- Educational psychologist
- Speech therapist
- Neuro- Cognitive specialist
- Counsellor
Optometrist and hearing specialist
Basic hearing and sight tests are part of our standard recommendations to eliminate physical difficulties as a reason for learning difficulties. Those tests can be done by the child's pediatrician or at the children's ward at CWM.
Pediatricians
Pediatricians are able to do hearing and sight tests. They also diagnose ADD/ ADHD and recommend treatment strategies.
Occupational therapist/ Educational Psychologist/ Neuro-cognitive Specialist
The actual testing for a learning disability or IQ can only be done by a specialist not by the LS teachers. There are currently no educational therapists or child psychologist available in Fiji, but can be sourced in NZ, Australia, USA or Asia by the parents.
Speech therapy
Through cooperation with the University of Maine, USA, we are able to offer online speech therapy assessments and lessons. The specialists are hired by the parents.
The University of Maine offers telepractice speech therapy session as a video conference via webex.com. The computers are linked, so that both parties see and work on the same screen (desktop sharing). Pictures, word documents, internet games or any digital material can be pulled up and be used by both parties at the same time interactively. Parents can join sessions from a computer at home/work as long as they have internet to see what the child is doing, talk to the therapist and get information about what to do at home.
The University of Maine has agreed to work with our school and has offered four places in their program. Times are scheduled individually in the mornings. The LS- department in Primary has the equipment that is needed and will provide an e-helper for these classes.
The cost of the program in American Dollar is $71 per 60 min therapy session. Diagnostic evaluation costs $175. Bills would have to be paid monthly by the parents using a credit card.
School Counsellor
ISS employs a school counsellor. Students may use this service only with the permission of the parents. Recommendation for this service will be based on observations from all parties involved (classroom teacher, LS teacher, parents...).
Personal Coach
ISS is an inclusive school. Students with special needs (Tier 3) are based in our inclusive mainstream classroom but may require special skill training and/or a personal coach.
If students require a one on one teacher support on a daily basis, the school will provide a personal coach via extra funding from the parents or their organisations. Funding will not be provided by the school. An Individual Learning Plan (ILP) will be developed by the learning support teacher in collaboration with the personal coach, classroom teacher, parents and student considering the findings of any specialist assessments and based on the individual needs of the student.