High Expectations for Low Incidence Disabilities

The mission of the HELIX Collaborative is to help school teams optimize educational and post-school outcomes for students with significant cognitive disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and complex needs. Students with complex needs have diverse cognitive profiles and may receive educational services in a variety of environments, including life skills classrooms, MDS classrooms, and the general education environment. They may also have large and varied IEP teams and may receive services from a wide array of professionals. The HELIX Collaborative unites individuals with varied expertise to meet the unique challenges of students with significant cognitive disabilities and complex needs. Visitors to this page are also invited to explore other PaTTAN webpages for further information on topics such as:

  • Vision 
  • Hearing 
  • Deaf-Blind                                    
  • Autism 
  • Assistive Technology 
  • Speech-Language 
  • Inclusive Practices 
  • Standards Aligned Instruction 
 

Mission/Vision Statement:  

The HELIX Collaborative acknowledges that the “average student” is a myth, and that students do not have value based on their ability to meet standards or exhibit specific skills. We value the individual and believe that every student can learn and work to achieve their individual goals. We want to move beyond awareness of disability to acceptance and empowerment. 

Students with complex needs have diverse cognitive profiles and may receive educational services in various environments, including the general education environment and/or self-contained classrooms. They may also have large and varied IEP teams and may receive services from a wide array of professionals.

Our role is to support these collaborative partners (students, families, and educators) with skills and resources to creatively design equitable and rigorous learning environments that are: 

  • accessible for every student 
  • aligned to the PA Core Standards for ELA and Math and PA STEELS for Science, and Career Education and Work Standards 
  • supports the development of self-determination and self-advocacy  
  • guided by the family and student’s vision for the future and the postsecondary outcomes of employment, community engagement, and independent living.  

Our work will communicate that every educator who supports students with low incidence disabilities understands and has the skills to take on the shared responsibility of delivering instruction with high expectations.  

Our support will demonstrate how to prioritize and plan for transition as early as possible in a student’s educational journey will build the foundation for future success by team members making connections between standards-aligned instruction and how those skills are serving our students in their everyday lives. 

 

Resources

Consultants

- Office Lead
- State Lead
Jennifer Geibel PaTTAN - WEST
Lynda Lupp PaTTAN - EAST
Kristin Starosta PaTTAN - EAST
Kirsten DeRoche PaTTAN - EAST
Gregory Lazur PaTTAN - WEST
Tammy Bertel PaTTAN - EAST
Meredith Penner PaTTAN - EAST
Kelley DesLauriers PaTTAN - WEST
Kelly Swartwood PaTTAN - CENTRAL
Amanda Thompson-Winnor PaTTAN - WEST