Child Find

What is Child Find?  The purpose of Child Find is to identify, locate, and

evaluate children and youth ages 3-22 years of age who are suspected of having or have a diagnosed disability or developmental delay, in order to provide appropriated Special Education services under the law.  This may also include children who are gifted (having high intellectual functioning).

A referral can be made by a parent or by any person concerned about a child.

When should a child be referred to Child Find?

• A health or medical disorder that interferes with development and/or learning.
• A child seems to have difficulty seeing or hearing.
• A child’s speech is not understood by family or friends.
• A child appears to have social, emotional, or behavioral difficulties that affect his/her ability to learn or interact with others.
• A child seems to have difficulty understanding directions like others that are his/her age.
• A child has a diagnosed progressive or degenerative condition that will eventually impair or impede the child’s ability to learn.

Screenings are held throughout the year.  A screening is to see if your child is developing and learning the way they should be at their age.  Screenings use a variety of tests and observations to find possible problems in the following areas:  hearing, vision, speech, language, self-help, social skills, and moving and using muscles.  Based on the screening results, the team members from the school can refer your child for further evaluations if he/she sees that more thorough testing is needed.  The evaluation may show that your child needs Special Education services.  That is instruction designed to meet the unique needs of individual students with disabilities.  A student must be evaluated and identified as having disability to be eligible for Special Education services.

Bradford Special School District

P. O. Box 220

106 West Front Street

Bradford, TN 38316

Phone:  731-742-3180  Fax:  731-742-3994

Email:  dunna@k12tn.net