Per federal and state law, local school districts are responsible for providing educational services to qualifying children with special needs from age three until high school graduation; however, Stark DD remains a valuable resource for you and your child.
School districts are required to evaluate children, ages 3 and older, who are suspected of having any type of developmental delay. If delays are found that will impact a child’s education, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) is developed with the parent and a team of professionals who will be working with the child.
The IEP team may include
- Teachers
- Occupational therapists
- Physical therapists
- Speech and language therapists
- Your local school district’s Director of Special Education
- School nurses
- Behavioral specialists
- Audiologists
- School principals
Stark County DD’s Eastgate Preschool
For children ages 3-5 years with significant developmental disabilities, Stark DD’s preschool program offers a rich learning experience for your child.
Our preschool program works in partnership with all 17 school districts in Stark County and is designed to provide an inclusive learning experience for all children. Our program follows the Ohio Early Learning and Development Standards and is licensed by the Ohio Department of Children and Youth.
When a child’s Individual Education Plan team determines Stark DD is the most appropriate educational setting for a preschool-aged child, the school district will make a referral to Stark DD Preschool which starts the enrollment process.
Transportation is available to students enrolled at Eastgate Preschool.
All Stark DD Preschool services are delivered by licensed and highly qualified professional staff dedicated to creating a nurturing and enriching atmosphere.
Preschool services include:
- Specially Designed Instruction in a preschool classroom setting
- Maximum class size of 12 preschoolers per classroom
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Speech/Language Therapy
- Nursing Services
- Behavior Support Services
- Transportation
Specialized Preschool Services
For children with specific needs, we offer specialized preschool services.
Autism Services
We are dedicated to providing a unique preschool experience that empowers children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and related diagnoses to achieve their full potential. Our approach, rooted in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, ensures that each child receives personalized instruction, using Discrete Trial Teaching, tailored to their needs. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn and grow in a supportive and nurturing environment, and we are committed to making that a reality for all our students.
Multiple Disabilities Services
Designed for preschool children with significant cognitive, physical, and/or medical needs, we work on empowering each child to develop independence, self-help, and academic readiness skills, laying a solid foundation for their future success in kindergarten and beyond.
Preschool Peer Program
It is important to Stark DD that our preschool students have opportunities to grow and develop age-appropriate skills to the best of their ability. Since research has shown children learn best when there are positive role models around them, we integrate children who demonstrate typical age-level skills into our classrooms to serve as role models for our children with developmental delays. We are especially interested in exposing our preschoolers to age-appropriate communication and social-emotional skills.