David Eric Hancock, MA, LDT/C
special education teacher
Special education and the processes making up our system of special education are complicated and can be confusing. Intimidating to be sure. Never comforting.
This consultancy offers parents, schools and professionals the benefit of years of experience as a special teacher and case manager.
Services Offered
A child has been referred to the IEP team for an assessment. Mom and dad are unsure what to do about this referral. Can they expect impartial, unbiased advise from the team about to do the evaluation? What are the possible consequences of saying yes to the evaluation? Or saying no?
Lots of tough questions for the family.
Or…a child reaches the time when the subject of transition planning must be discussed. This is an important point in a child's program of special education when supplemental services and training opportunities must be discussed. Must.
Transition discussions are a big deal. We're talking about adding education and training above and beyond a child's daily special education program, services added to a child's IEP teaching specific mobility (travel training), social and pre-vocational skills.
Most public school departments of special education are reluctant to add such expensive individual services unless needs are clearly demonstrated and parents are pushy. Yes, pushy. Assertive.
Transition services are supplemental social or pre-vocational experiences (added to a child’s academic program) designed to prepare a child (or adult) for a move to another class or program, to enter the world of work or move to post high school education.
On-the-street mobility or travel training is discrete instruction designed to teach survival skills vital for the child (or adult) wanting to succeed in the world of work.
But if a parent doesn't know about these available supplemental services and programs -and the IEP team doesn't bring up these expensive related services- the child loses out. And once a child reaches his or her 21st birthday, federal and state special education guarantees end. Just as if a door had been slammed shut.
So…reach out now to the consultancy. Let’s talk about how your child might benefit from a specific program of transition instruction: how your child study team might be persuaded to fund these special education services.; specific skills needed to be taught to accomplish specific goals.
Don’t wait.
This consultancy specializes in teaching necessary, out-on-the-street, in-the-community mobility, travel and pre-employment skills,
Clientele
The consultancy accepts students who might be enrolled in programs of special education as well as adults reentering the workforce following a major health episode.
Instruction is guided by a comprehensive transition plan with measurable goals.
Referrals: public school and private. Fees are negotiated.
Client list: The David Gregory School, (Paramus, NJ); Chatham Public Schools (NJ), Jefferson Public Schools (NJ), Greater Brunswick Charter School (NJ), Morristown Public Schools (NJ), Linden Board of Education (NJ), Morris County Education Services Commission (NJ), Hunterdon County Education Services Commission (NJ.)
Recent employment: Learning consultant on Linden High School (Union County, NJ) child study team. Began working for the city as a contractor (DEHancockConsultancy) providing per-case learning and vocational assessments, case management of middle and high school children. Subsequently recruited and joined staff as an employee on tenure track. Responsibilities: assess academic and pre-vocational skills; administer a variety vocational assessment and career preference instruments. Consult with and support students, teachers, parents and administrators. Big part of my work was case management involving post high school transition counseling and planning. Maintained close contact with public and private schools and agencies in the county and state. Retired 1Nov2014.
Professional Experience:
Supervisor of education, SEEK-Education & Rehabilitation Services, Inc (multi-disabled young adults; offered socialization/mobility/travel training/prevocational experiences), NJ.
Learning consultant, River Dell Junior/Senior High School (member of the child study team), NJ.
Teacher of emotionally disturbed children (elementary and middle school ages), Ridgewood Board of Education, NJ.
Teacher of autistic/seriously emotionally disturbed children (primary and elementary ages) Forum School, Waldwick, NJ.
Military Service: Regular US Army (ASA/INSCOM veteran), security clearance: TS/C; honorably discharged.
Volunteer Service: American Red Cross: disaster cycle services/recovery case worker; service to US armed forces, family outreach caseworker.
Education:
>Virginia Military Institute
>William Paterson University (BA, MA)
Post Graduate Training
>Alfred Adler Institute: (clinical counseling)
>Elizabeth Boggs Center (Rutgers University) on Developmental Disabilities (adult transition services)
>Montclair State University (supervision of professional staff)
>Fairleigh Dickinson University (assessment and identification of learning disabilities)
NJ Issued Teaching Certificates
>Social studies, junior/senior high school
>Teacher of the Handicapped (all grades)
>Learning Disabilities Teacher/Consultant
>Supervisor of Professional Staff
>Structured Learning Experience teacher
Call or reach out. The phone consult is free
+1-908-671.-1388
david@dehancockconsultancy.com