The HSC Pediatric Center's Department of Education offer educational and related services to inpatients at HSC. Services are provided in a hospital-based setting to students 18 months to 21 years of age with a wide range of learning, emotional, physical, and neurological and developmental disabilities, as well as children in regular education programs. Education services focus on the development of the whole child (education, behavior, social and emotional) with the assistance of the hospital team (Physical Therapist, Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapist, Recreation Therapists, Psychology, and Medical team). Because of the unique hospital-based setting, The HSC Pediatric Center takes advantage of and acknowledges each student’s strengths.

Program Overview

The HSC Pediatric Center provides education assistance in obtaining appropriate school services to all patients (18 months to 21 years of age). Education assistance include:

• Evaluation and assessment to provide support to obtain services within school
• Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and Individualized Education Plan (IEP)—develop and implement goals that are established.
• Tutor
• Refer students for homebound instruction services from respective school district.
• Provide support and guidance to families whose children have been admitted into the hospital.
• Continuous communication with parents/guardian, The HSC Pediatric Center ’s multi-disciplinary team, and school officials regarding the progress/needs of the student.
• Early intervention services (ages determined by home state of the patient).

Home and Hospital Teaching Services

Students who are expected to stay at the hospital for at least 2-4 weeks (determined by school district) are referred to their respective school districts. Upon receiving the referral, a visiting teacher is assigned to the student to provide academic instruction while at the hospital.

Disabilities Served

Educational services are provided to, but not limited to, children 18 months to 21 years of age whom are/have: recovering from traumatic brain injuries, spina bifida, emotional disorders, orthopedic impairments, specific learning disabilities, multi-handicapping conditions, speech/language disorders, etc.

Contact the Education staff

• Tricia McCoy (202) 635-6557, Office; (301) 369-8759, Pager

OR

• Jacqueline R. Williams MEd., ECS, LSE, Senior Education Specialist (202) 635-4491, Office; (202) 631-6486, Cellular