In 2010, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) developed a network of six grant-funded Centers (listed below) to lend support to school personnel and the students with special needs served by this network. These six resource centers, called the Indiana Resource Network (IRN), worked concertedly together as a state-funded entity until October, 2013 to provide Indiana’s schools targeted and comprehensive special education support and assistance. The HANDS in Autism® Interdisciplinary and Training Resource Center has been privileged to be a part of this network as the only Center with focus on Autism and Developmental Disabilities. Through the coordinated effort of the IRN, schools were referred by the IDOE to HANDS or one of the other specialized centers (see below) for assistance with professional development, capacity building and access to resources aimed towards supporting best practice implementation. Though not all fully funded after October 2014, the participating Centers have continued technical assistance and support for special education programming in schools.
Participating IRN Centers:
- Effective Assessment and Instruction
Indiana University, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community - Effective Evaluations
Indiana State University, Blumberg Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Special Education - Effective and Compliant Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
Indiana State University, Blumberg Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Special Education - HANDS in Autism® Interdisciplinary Training & Resource Center
Indiana University, Riley Hospital for Children, Department of Psychiatry - Positive Behavior Support
Indiana University, Center for Evaluation & Education Policy (CEEP) and Indiana Institute on Disability and Community - Transition to Adulthood
Indiana University, Indiana Institute on Disability and Community
Indiana Department of Education, Office of Special Education Resources
The Special Education team at the IDOE ensures that Indiana is in compliance with the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act through monitoring of special education programs and oversight of the community. The team provides brief video updates, called Short Shares, as a quick easy way to disseminate information. Click the button below to view these Short Shares and find further resources offered by the Office of Special Education.
Alternatives to Suspensions and Expulsions: A Teacher and Administrator Guide to School Discipline
The development of effective systems for school discipline requires a broad set of resources. The intent of this guidance document is to support schools in their movement towards more effective, evidence-based methods of behavior management and school discipline for all students. These considerations are offered for staff at the classroom level (see individual and classroom level response) as well as administrators at the school and district level (see school and district response).