SCVi/iLEAD is being recognized for its virtual special education program after school closures caused by the coronavirus pandemic required an abrupt transition to distance learning.

In a recent article by LAist, SCVi/iLEAD was highlighted for its efforts in expanding its existing homeschool special education program’s virtual specialized therapies to include special needs learners who had received in-person therapies prior to the public health crisis. 

Specialized therapies known as “related services” can include speech and language therapy, adaptive physical education, behavioral therapy, counseling, audiology services and more, according to the LAist article. 

“Ensuring students can still receive these specialized therapies … through distance learning is a challenge that goes beyond getting every student a laptop and an internet connection,” wrote LAist’s Kyle Stokes. “But if you’re wondering whether it’s even possible to offer hands-on services … over the internet, (iLEAD Founder and CEO) Dawn Evenson said the answer is yes.” 

Approximately 400 learners with disabilities have been part of SCVi/iLEAD’s home-study program since long before the coronavirus pandemic began, many of whom were already receiving their related services virtually, according to the LAist article. 

Related: SCVi/iLEAD Teacher Gets Creative With Distance Learning, Uses Home Cooking To Teach

Evenson, who has family members that work as occupational therapists, shared with LAist that common household items are often utilized during sessions, and can typically be easily located by a parent as needed. 

For example, an occupational therapist from SCVi/iLEAD was able to have a learner practice their fine motor skills during a virtual session recently by asking the parent to provide a colander and pipe cleaners from her kitchen, according to LAist. 

“For years, my mom was dragging things out of the house or into the kitchen to work with her patients in person,” Evenson told LAist. “Now that they’re doing this virtually, the parents are finding out. To me, … that’s better.” 

Amber Rogers, who oversees special education at SCVi/iLEAD, added, “There’s always a way.”

Ed. Note: This article is a KHTS Community Spotlight for SCVi/iLEAD Charter School in Santa Clarita. 

SCVi/iLEAD is a tuition free charter school in Santa Clarita that uses project-based and social-emotional learning concepts to inspire and motivate lifelong learners with the skills they need to lead in the 21st century. Technology is incorporated into all components of the curriculum, and learners are given a firm grounding in the arts, humanities and sciences. School officials value and encourage development of leadership skills by inspiring character and confidence in learners. SCVi/iLEAD offers transitional kindergarten (TK) through 12th grade, providing a unique learning opportunity for those in need of a kindergarten in Santa Clarita, elementary school in Santa Clarita, jr high in Santa Clarita, middle school in Santa Clarita or high school in Santa Clarita. 

SCVi/iLEAD

28060 Hasley Canyon Rd.

Castaic, CA 91384

Lower School: 661-705-4820

Upper School: 661-705-8420

SCVi/iLEAD – Santa Clarita

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SCVi/iLEAD, High School in Santa Clarita, Middle School in Santa Clarita, Jr High School in Santa Clarita, Elementary School in Santa Clarita, Kindergarten in Santa Clarita, Charter School in Santa Clarita, Tuition Free