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The Special Education Department is under the direction of Dr. Geraldine Ryan-Washington, Director of Special Education, at the Administration Center, 938-9577.

Every student in the West Shore School District will be offered an educational program that meets his/her individual needs and is suited to his/her unique abilities. Specific programs and services are provided for students who are in need of:

  • Autistic Support - For students identified as autistic.
  • Gifted Support - For students identified as gifted.
  • Learning Support - For students where the primary need is academic learning.
  • Life Skills Support - For students where the primary focus is on the functional, academic, and independent living needs.
  • Emotional Support - For students whose primary need is for emotional support.
  • Deaf or Hearing Impaired Support - For students identified with hearing loss.
  • Blind or Visually Impaired Support - For students identified with vision loss.
  • Speech and Language Support - For students who have speech and language needs.
  • Physical Support - For students who are physically impaired.
  • Multi-Disabilities Support - For students who have multiple disabilities.


Special Education

Educational programs (full-time, supplement, itinerant) are available in the District or by contract with support agencies for students with a disability. Your child may be eligible for Special Education if he/she:

  • Has a physical, sensory, intellectual or emotional disability 
  • Needs special education as determined by an evaluation team

Your child must meet both qualifications in order to be eligible for special education.


Gifted Support

Mentally gifted is defined as outstanding intellectual and creative ability the development of which requires specially designed programs or support services, or both, not ordinarily provided in the regular education program. (22 Pa. Code 116.1)

The gifted program is designed for students (K-12) whose exceptional academic skills require special education activities to challenge their intellectual abilities. Services are based on individual student need and may vary from student to student and grade level to grade level. Services may include direct support and/or support in the regular education setting.


Protected Handicapped

Children who have disabilities which substantially limit their participation in or access to school programs, but who do not need special education, may qualify for reasonable accommodations in the regular classroom under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and other Pennsylvania education regulations.

For further information or answers to questions regarding the evaluation process or specific special education programs and services, contact Dr. Geraldine Ryan-Washington, Director of Special Education, 938-9577.


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