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District
  1. Student & Family Support
  2. Students with Special Needs
  3. Special Education

Special Education

Welcome to the Special Education Department!

Department Contacts

Glendale Unified Special Education Office - Room 206
Phone: (818) 241-3111 ext. 1205 | Fax: (818) 548-7237

Dr. Debra Rinder
Executive Director		 Ext. 1205 Email Debra
Beatriz Fojo-Bautista
Director		 Ext. 1329 Email Beatriz
Bill Gifford
Coordinator		 Ext. 1526 Email Bill
Dr. Aida Babayan
Coordinator		 Ext. 1588 Email Aida
Heather O’Dell
Coordinator		   Email Heather
Lilia Sepanian
Executive Secretary		 Ext. 1202 Email Lilia

What is Special Education?

The GUSD Special Education department provides specifically designed instruction to students who need additional support beyond the general instruction program.

  • Support is provided in a way that promotes maximum interaction between students with and without disabilities.
  • Services are provided at no cost to families.
     

Examples of Special Education Services

Specifically Designed Instruction

  • Systematically teaching a student to walk
  • Using pictures in a lecture-type lesson
  • Using manipulatives in an algebra lesson
  • Speech and language instruction
  • Adapted physical education

Specialized Aids

  • Books on tape
  • Textbooks with enlarged print
  • Brailed homework
  • Auditory training equipment
  • Physical modifications

Support Services

  • Modified lessons
  • Functional behavior plans
  • Physical assistance
  • Occupational therapy
  • Sign language support

 

Who is Eligible for Special Education Services?

Students aged 3-22 who have one or more of the following federally defined impairments affecting their educational performance may be eligible to receive special education services.

  • Autism
  • Deaf-blindness
  • Deafness
  • Hearing impairment
  • Intellectual disability
  • Multiple disabilities
  • Orthopedic impairment
  • Other health impairment
  • Serious emotional disturbance
  • Specific learning disability
  • Speech or language impairment
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Visual impairment


Eligibility is determined through an assessment process. Necessary interventions will be implemented to maximize each student's educational potential.

 

To learn more, contact the GUSD Special Education Department at (818) 241-3111 x1205.

Additional Information for Parents/Guardians: English | Armenian | Korean | Spanish | Russian