Special Education Programs

The St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES Special Education Program provides services for students with disabilities from age 3 to 21. Each student receives the program and related services requested by the local district’s Committee on Special Education (CSE) or Committee for Pre-school Special Education (CPSE), and specified in the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). Potsdam, Ogdensburg, Heuvelton, and Canton are designated as regional sites for BOCES-operated Special Education Programs. Most classes are located in component district school buildings and provide opportunities for participation in the least restrictive environment. Specialized Alternative Programs (Community Connections) are located in Norwood and Ogdensburg.

We strive to provide every student the high-quality education they deserve and help them thrive in the context of their varied identities across race, apparent and non-apparent disability, gender, age, religion, identity and experience. This is a matter of equity and fairness and embodies the spirit of leaving no child behind.

Programs Offered

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) (6:1+1)

Scientific research demonstrates that interventions based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) are the most effective treatment for autism. Our preschool and school-age classrooms provide intensive individualized programs for students with autism based on the principles and instructional methods of ABA.

Learn more about our Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program in Canton and Potsdam.

Beginning Years

The Beginning Years Program provides services to children ages 3 to 5 in a preschool setting as well as school-aged services in a non-traditional setting.

Learn more about SLL BOCES’s Beginning Years Program.

Management Needs Program (8:1+1/6:1+1/6:1+2)

The Management Needs Programs 8:1+I provides services for students with behavioral challenges who have not been successful in a general education setting.

Learn more about the Management Needs Program.

Heuvelton Special Education Programs

The Heuvelton BOCES Programs provide self-contained programming options for middle and high school 12:1:1 and 8:1:1 students.

Learn more about Heuvelton Special Education Programs.

Norwood Special Education Programs

SLL BOCES Special Education classrooms at the Seaway Career and Tech building in Norwood offer Transition Services – Community Based Work Program and our Community Connections program.

Ogdensburg Special Education Programs

SLL BOCES Special Education classrooms in Ogdensburg provide instruction through our Management, Diverse Learning, and Life Skills programs.

Learn more about the Ogdensburg Special Education Programs.

Potsdam Special Education Services

SLL BOCES Special Education classrooms in Potsdam offer Applied Behavior Analysis, Management Needs, Behavioral Needs, Life Skills and Extended Year programs.

Learn more about Potsdam Special Education Services.

Community Connections

This program offers a supportive setting that encourages students to become productive citizens by developing skills that promote academic and personal growth.

Learn more about the Community Connections program.

Extended School Year

This is a six-week, full-day, summer program for students requiring a 12-month program to maintain developmental levels.

Learn more about Extended School Year.

Life Skills Program (12:1+1)

Provides support for students to achieve their highest level of independence.

Learn more about our Life Skills Program.

Transition Services – Community Based Work Program

The Community Based Work Program (CBWP) supports students from 18 component districts with disabilities in a half day work program in a community setting in Norwood and Ogdensburg.

Learn more about our Transition Services – Community Based Work Program.

Back to top

Special Education Related Services

Related services are non-academic services that supplement instruction to support the needs of special education students. Related services may be provided to students enrolled in BOCES programs, or purchased on an itinerant basis by school districts to support their special education programming.

Itinerant services offer schools the opportunity to share the services of professional educators and related service providers on an individual basis to support district special education programs.

Assistive Technology

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides for assistive technology (AT) in the educational setting. An AT device means any item, piece of equipment, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of children with disabilities.

Learn more about Assistive Technology.

Behavioral Coordination Services

SLL BOCES provides consultant services to school districts to support students with behavior challenges in the least restrictive environment.

Learn more about Behavioral Coordination Services.

Occupational & Physical Therapy

School-Based occupational and physical therapists work to enhance a student’s ability to fully access and be successful in the learning environment by assisting them to be as independently functional as possible within their educational setting.

Learn more about Occupational & Physical Therapy services.

Vision–Blind and Visually Impaired (Teacher of the Vision Impaired)

The Teacher of the Vision Impaired (TVI) provides a range of educational support and services to students who are identified as blind and visually impaired.

Learn more about services for the blind and visually impaired.

Audiology

St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES audiology services provide comprehensive non-medical support for children with listening and/or hearing difficulties.

Learn more about services for the hearing-impaired.

Counseling

Assists students through personal interactions in which students explore their feelings, ideas, and behaviors with a professionally trained counselor.

Learn more about Counseling services.

Speech Language Department (Speech Language Therapy)

Assists students in reaching their maximum speech, communication and language potential, to become effective communicators in their community.

Learn more about Speech Language Therapy services.

Adaptive Physical Education (APE)

Assists students who may not safely or successfully engage in a general physical education program through a diversified instruction of activities, games, sports and rhythms focusing on their developmental abilities.

Learn more about Adaptive Physical Education.

Back to top