Aurora Public Schools provide Special Education Services to students, birth through 21 years of age, as required by the federal law known as IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and Nebraska Department of Education’s Rule 51 and Rule 52. Thirteen disability categories are defined by the State of Nebraska. They include: autism, deaf-blindness, developmental delay, emotionally disturbed, hearing impairments, intellectual disability, multiple impairments, orthopedic impairments, other health impairments, specific learning disabilities, speech-language impairments, traumatic brain injury, and visual impairments. Children with disabilities are entitled to a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment.

The Aurora School District contracts for an interpreter and visual consultants from the Educational Service Unit No. 9 in Hastings. Occupational therapy and physical therapy services are contracted from Memorial Hospital here in Aurora. All other certified and non-certified staff members are employed by the Aurora School District. Special education services for 245 students are provided at Aurora Public School.

Aurora Public Schools has the philosophy of using a team concept in providing services to students with disabilities. Parents, classroom teachers, special educators, administrators, outside agencies, and other appropriate personnel work together to individualize the program for each special education student. Depending on the severity of the disability, students are provided with opportunities for academic assistance, skill development, vocational programming assistance with community living, development of self-help skills, speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and linkages to post-secondary programs.

We provide educational opportunities for ALL students in our district by…

* serving our children in our community.
* providing academic experiences for children with diverse learning abilities.
* providing students with the necessary assistive technology to promote independence and opportunities to use them in a variety of settings.
* promoting interactions with same age peers and partnerships between general education and special education students.
* providing opportunities to learn and improve self-help skills, daily living skills, and vocational skills.
* providing social opportunities with other students, teachers and community members.
* developing lasting partnerships with community members, organizations and businesses in the Aurora area.