Welcome to the Bolton Public Schools Student Support Services page.  We are responsible for providing a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) for all students including those students with disabilities ages three to twenty-one.  The Student Support Services Department, in coordination with the building Principals, is responsible for the overall referral, identification, and programming for students with disabilities who require special education instruction and related services.

The Bolton Public School system is committed to educating students with disabilities in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).This means that students with disabilities are educated with students who are not disabled whenever possible and to the extent that is appropriate to meet their needs.  It also means that special classes, separate schooling or other removal of students with disabilities occurs only when the nature and severity of the disability is such that education in general education classes with the use of supplemental aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily. 

Bolton Public Schools has developed and provides a continuum of services to meet your child’s specific needs including co-teaching within the general education classroom, resource rooms, partially self-contained classrooms, self-contained classrooms, alternative classrooms, transition within the community, and out of district placements. 

The following services are part of the Student Support Services Department: 

Assistive Technology Services: Services are provided to students with disabilities who require equipment or devices to independently participate in a task or access the resources in the environment relevant to his/her IEP goals.  Assistive technology may range from low-cost, low-tech devices, such as adaptive scissors or pencil grips, to higher cost, high-tech items such as augmentative communication devices. Assisted Technology increases, maintains, or improves the functional capabilities of children with disabilities.  

Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Services:  Services are provided to students, families, and staff regarding the unique behavioral needs of students.  In addition, the BCBA works closely with those students who require applied behavior analysis and/or discrete trial training in order to learn and acquire new concepts. 

Counseling Services: Services are provided on an individual and/or small group basis to help students succeed academically, socially and emotionally.  Services include psychological testing, individual and small group counseling services, crisis intervention, social developmental histories, home-school collaboration, school-based psychiatric consultations, teacher consultations, and liaisons with outside mental health services. Our counseling staff includes school psychologists, a licensed marriage family therapist, school counselors, and a consulting licensed psychologist. 

Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Services:   Services are provided to students with fine motor, sensory motor, and gross motor difficulties that interfere with their educational performance and ability to benefit from their education program.  The focus of these services in a school setting is to promote functional independence or participation within the education environment.  Our therapy staff includes a physical therapist, occupational therapist and certified occupational therapy assistant. 

Speech and Language Services:  Services are provided to students who demonstrate significant delays in the use and acquisition of normal speech and language skills. Services are provided on an individual and small group basis in the areas of articulation, language, voice, fluency and pragmatic language.  Our staff includes a speech and language therapist. 

Visually Impaired Services: Services are provided to students through itinerant staff from the State Board of Education and Services for the Blind, and through the services of a contracted orientation and mobility specialist.

Beth Mancini Goldsnider
Director of Student Support Services
Bolton Public Schools
860-643-1569