Special Programs: Special Education
Odyssey Academy has over 200 students eligible for special education and related services. Our staff and related service providers are dedicated to providing exceptional individualized services to students. According to both federal and state law, the goal of special education is to help students with disabilities become independent and move successfully through the grade levels. Law requires each student become employable, if possible, when they leave the educational setting or pursue opportunities in post-secondary education. Each program and service provided through Odyssey Academy’s special education program is devoted to the success of every student.
It is our goal to ensure that Odyssey Academy’s special education students will be empowered for personal and academic success by ensuring that students are engaged in high-quality, intentional instruction to ensure academic growth and personal success from highly qualified and compassionate educators.
Odyssey Academy believes that:
All special education students are general education students first.
Individualized student needs drive decisions for special education students.
A continuum of services is assured for all special education students.
Highly qualified educators have a growth mindset and hold high expectations for all special education students.
School and staff leaders, parents, students, and community members share the responsibility of the growth of special education students.
Positive learning environments guided by engaged and qualified teachers and aides will be provided to all special education students.
Communication, collaboration, and cooperation are essential to the provision of quality services for special education students.
The delivery of quality curriculum and instruction empowers special education students to be meaningfully connected to educational experiences.
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Child Find
If you suspect an infant, child, or young adult of having a developmental delay or disability, we can help! The student may be eligible for services, at no cost, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Services are available to eligible infants, children, and young adults identified with a disability who may be experiencing difficulties in one or more of the following:
Orthopedic Impairment
Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Visual Impairment
Deaf-Blind
Intellectual Disability
Emotional Disturbance
Learning Disability (including Dyslexia)
Speech and/or Language
Autism
Health Impairment
Traumatic Brain Injury
Noncategorical Early Childhood
For more information, please call the Odyssey Academy Special Programs office at 409-750-9289.
Dyslexia
Odyssey Academy’s dyslexia program works to identify students with dyslexia, provide academic support and interventions that meets their individual needs, and assist the student in developing skills to progress as learners.
The state of Texas (TEC §38.003) defines dyslexia as, “a disorder of constitutional origin manifested by a difficulty in learning to read, write, or spell, despite conventional instruction, adequate intelligence, and socio-cultural opportunity. ‘Related disorders’ includes disorders similar to or related to dyslexia such as developmental auditory imperceptions, dysphagia, specific developmental dyslexia, developmental dysgraphia, and developmental spelling disability.”
The International Dyslexia Association’s definition of dyslexia states, “Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.”
What if I suspect my child has dyslexia?
The first step is to discuss your concerns with your child’s classroom teacher. He or she will be able to discuss your child’s appropriate progress in the curriculum. If dyslexia is suspected, the classroom teacher will proceed with appropriate interventions and/or request an evaluation. The updated Dyslexia Handbook is located below, in addition to other resources.
Online Resources:
Documents:
Dyslexia Handbook: Dyslexia Handbook 2021 Update
Transition & Employment
The Transition and Employment Guide is for students who are age 14 and older who receive special education services and their parents. This guide has steps students can take to make sure they are able to find the right work or educational options after high school. It also tells where to get the services a student will need after high school.
Each section has phone numbers, emails, and websites to help locate services and information. At the end of each section and at the end of the guide, students and parents will find a timeline of steps that can be taken to help make the transition from student to adult. If you have questions about this guide or the information in it, please send the Texas Education Agency an email at sped@tea.state.tx.us.
Documents:
To access more information, click on the following link: http://www.transitionintexas.org.
For additional questions or help accessing the Transition and Employment Guide, please call the Special Program’s Office at 409-750-9289.
Parent Resources
Below are resources to help parents navigate in the world of Special Education. Please take time to explore each of the resources presented below.
Resources on Special Education in Texas
This website includes information for parents from the Texas Education Agency.
SPEDTex
The Special Education Information Center (SPEDTex) provides resources and interactive features for increasing family awareness of disabilities and special education processes, with the goal of improving partnerships between schools and families.
Contact information:
Phone: 1-855-773-3839
Email: inquire@spedtex.org
Navigate Life Texas
This website is especially for families and parents of children with disabilities or special health-care needs and is designed to offer support, inspiration, resources and links to services available.
Parent Companion First Five Years
Parent Companion First Five Years website is a guide for Texas Parents and caregivers of children diagnosed or suspected disabilities from birth through 5 years of age.
Texas Parent to Parent
Texas Parent to Parent provides a variety of resources, education and training to parents, family members, professionals, and others who share an interest in improving lives of children with a disability, chronic illness, or special health care need.
Texas Project First
This website was created by parents for parents in partnership with the Texas Education Agency. It is committed to proving accurate and consistent information to parents and families of students with disabilities.
Region 4 Education Service Center: Parent Resources
The Region 4 Education Service Center also has a list of helpful resources for parents.
