“The Virgin Islands Department of Education’s Division of Special Services, St. Croix District is embarking on its annual child find activities in an effort to locate, identify and evaluate children who may have developmental delays, identified and/or suspected disabilities, and are not being served in a district public school,” said Maureen Moorehead, district coordinator of Special Education for the St. Croix district.
“Children ages three through 21 years of age suspected of having a disability even though they are advancing from grade to grade as well as highly mobile/migrant and/or homeless children continue to be a focus of our child find efforts” said Moorehead.
The Division of Special Services conducts screenings and evaluations and provides special education and related services to eligible children. Twice yearly, in collaboration with other public, semi-autonomous and private agencies, it conducts free developmental screenings for children, ages birth to five years, according to a press release issued on Wednesday from the Virgin Islands Department of Education.
All referrals and evaluations are considered confidential. Services, including screening and evaluation in areas of suspected disabilities such as learning impairments, speech and language development, physical impairments, vision or hearing impairments, mental retardation, emotional disturbances, autism, health impairments and traumatic brain injuries, are provided at no cost to the family. At the completion of the process, a free, appropriate, public education is made available for all eligible children. A parent, legal guardian, or surrogate parent retains the right to refuse services and are provided other procedural safeguards under federal and state law.
“Parents who are concerned with their child’s development and would like to get more information about our services or would like to obtain a referral packet are encouraged to contact the St. Croix District’s Division of Special Services at 718-7997,” said Moorehead.