Putnam Schools Open Doors For Parent Questions On Special Needs

The Putnam County School System is opening its doors Tuesday to any parents with questions about their child’s special needs.

Kids in private school or home school can use the system’s Child Find program. Special Education Supervisor Sheri Roberson said Child Find is there for parents who are noticing any struggles in their child’s development.

“They may be struggling with speech, hearing, social skill issues, executive functioning skill issues,” Roberson said. “So as a parent you’re thinking, there’s something going on here and it’s affecting them with their educational development.”

Roberson said the earlier the better for intervention, with the system able to start assisting kids as young as three. Roberson said that doors will be open at the Putnam County Schools Central Office from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, answering questions and getting parents referral packets for testing services.

“If they have a three year old and have not been working with TEIS, which is the Tennessee Early Intervening Services and they suspect something is going on,” Roberson said. “We can start that evaluation process as early as the age of three and start working with them through our pre-k programs. Even with speech, so if they have a child they don’t think is interacting and talking and speaking and playing with the other kids like they think they should be. Then we can start that evaluation process.”

She said the system can get child evaluations started, then determine the best way to help the child. Roberson said while they do an annual open door meeting, parents with concerns about special needs assistance are free to call central office all year.