Special Education

District 90 offers a continuum of services for any River Forest student who may qualify for services under Section 504 or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Under either provision, District 90 supports the intent of the federal and state mandates to meet student needs in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for those who meet eligibility requirements. We also provide an Inclusive Preschool Program for children, beginning at age 3. If your child attends a school in District 90, please contact one of the staff members listed below.

Special Services Staff

Denise Matthews, Director of Special Education
Kacie Bair, School Psychologist/Team Leader - Willard School
Tiffanie Torrisi, Special Education Team Facilitator - Private and Parochial Schools
Yolanda (Jolie) Feliciano, Special Education/Accounts Payable Clerk
Courtney Orcholski, School Psychologist/Team Leader - Roosevelt Middle School (Grades 6, 7, and 8)
Kara Orlando, School Psychologist/Team Leader - Lincoln School and Roosevelt Middle School (Grade 5 only)

Inclusion Preschool

The process to apply for the 2020-21 Inclusion Preschool is closed. Families that have already applied for placement in the 2020-21 Inclusion Preschool will be notified about the acceptance decision on or about March 21, 2020. Please see the materials below for additional information about the District 90 Inclusion Preschool.

Forms

Click the links below to download PDFs.

Special Education Advisory Committee

The Special Education Advisory Committee was created to foster communication, discussion, and collaboration related to topics that impact special education programs and initiatives. Our Committee welcomes new parents/guardians.

Contact Denise Matthews, Director of Special Education, at [email protected] if you are interested in becoming a member of the Special Education Advisory Committee.

Helpful Resources

Inclusion Advocacy
Test Preparation Suggestions
Illinois State Board of Education Special Education Parent Training and Information Centers
Community Support Services:Provides services for children and adults with developmental disabilities and for their families, including respite care.
IllinoisParents.org: A clearinghouse of resources for families and schools, aimed at strengthening school communities
Illinois State Board of Education: Provides legal information and resources.
Oak Park and River Forest High School: To go directly to the OPRF High School special education page, please click here.
Understanding PUNS: Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services
Suburban Access: Offers case management and service coordination to individuals with developmental disabilities throughout the south and west suburbs of Cook County.
State of Illinois Developmental Disabilities and PUNS (Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services) resources. The PUNS information can be found in FAQs.
West Suburban Special Recreation Association (WSSRA): Provides year-round recreation programs for children and adults who have a physical impairment, a mental disability, or any other type of disability.
National Pediatric Developmental Differences Forum: Provides information and resources to support children with developmental differences.

Disclaimer

The Special Education Department provides links to other websites only as a convenience for persons who visit our website. Our agency does not guarantee the accuracy or propriety of any information, offered services, or products contained in any website linked directly or indirectly to ours. Therefore, reasonable efforts should be made to verify information and services or product offerings contained in any website.

Homebound Tutoring

Home/Hospital services are provided to a student when a licensed medical physician determines that the student will or is anticipated to, due to a medical condition, be out of school for a minimum of two consecutive weeks of school (10 days) on an ongoing intermittent basis.

An "ongoing intermittent basis" means the student's medical condition is of such nature or severity that it is anticipated that the student will be absent from school due to the medical condition at least two consecutive days multiple times during the school year, totaling at least 10 days of absences.

The information below must be included in a physician's certification for home/hospital instruction:

Student's name and date of birth
Physician's name and contact information
Be completed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches
Specify the student's current medical condition
Describe the impact of the student's medical condition on his/her ability to participate in education (including the physical and mental level of tolerance for school)
State anticipated duration or nature of the student's absence from school
State whether there is any reason the student cannot receive five or more hours of home instruction per week, and if so, why
Physician's signature and date

Please contact Denise Matthews at [email protected] or call 708-771-8282 for more information regarding Homebound Tutoring.

Private, Parochial, & Home-Schooled Students

In accordance with the requirements of the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (“IDEA 2004”), public school districts are required to spend a portion of their Federal Part B special education funds to provide identified students with disabilities who attend private schools with the opportunity to equitably participate in special education services offered by their district. As part of that process, we must conduct a public meeting in order to discuss our plans to fulfill that responsibility for the upcoming school year. In addition, we wish to hear your feedback and views in order to ensure that your voices are heard during this process. Finally, we also want to share information about how students with suspected disabilities can access the process offered by our district to screen and evaluate those suspected disabling conditions.

More information about the Timely & Meaningful Consultation can be shared by emailing Denise Matthews at [email protected] or call 708-771-8282.

Special Education/Section 504 Services