School age services refer to the interventions, such as speech or behavioral therapy, available from ages 3 to 21. Your school district provides these through their special education department. School age services focus on facilitating academic education and, by age 16, a plan to transition into adulthood.
The school’s special education department is tasked with preparing an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for your child. The IEP describes your child’s strengths and weaknesses and sets goals and objectives. It also describes how the school will provide the appropriate services.
By law, these services must be provided to you at no cost. The family must remain involved, even after the IEP is established, by staying in contact with the educational team, monitoring progress, reevaluating goals and providing consistency between home and school.
Service Providers
Centerstone
P.O. Box 40406
Nashville, TN 37204-0406
Phone: 615-463-6600
888-291-4357
Fax: 615-463-6603
Community Options Tennessee
Phone: 423-892-0022
Fax: 423-892-7910
Contact: Garth Platt
Email: garth.platt@comop.org
Harwood Center
711 Jefferson Avenue
Memphis, TN 38105
Phone: 901-448-6580
Fax: 901-448-4734
Contact: Margaret Headrick
Email: mheadrick@utmem.edu
The King’s Daughters’ School Center for Autism
412 West 9th Street
Columbia, TN 38401
Phone: 931-388-3810
Fax: 931-388-0405
Email: info@tkds.org
Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes
699 Oakleaf Office Lane, Suite 200
Memphis, TN 38117
Phone: 901-767-2605
Fax: 901-767-2608
Contact: Jessica Cardullo
Email: lblpmemphis@lblp.com
NICHCY
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
State Resources
Rights of Children with Disabilities and Parent Responsibilities
Special Education Manual
Department of Education
Phone: 615-741-2851
Tennessee APSE: Association for Persons in Supported Employment
251 Panther Creek Road
Sevierville, TN 37876
Phone: 865-429-1669
Contact: Mike Sass
Email: sasspatch@aol.com
Tennessee Department of Education
Division of Special Education
2763 Island Home Boulevard
Knoxville, TN 37920
Phone: 865-594-5691
888-212-3162 (Special Education questions)
Contact: Debbie Cate, Preschool/619 Coordinator
Transition from School Age Services to Adult Services
Division of Special Education
2763 Island Home Boulevard
Knoxville, TN 37920
Phone: 865-594-5691
Contact: Jane Winstead, Director for Transition Services
Email: Jane.Winstead@state.tn.us
Trula Lawson Early Childhood Center
550 Eastgate Road
Sevierville, TN 37862
Phone: 865-428-5793
Fax: 865-428-3594
Contact: Dr. Fran Harmon, Principal
Email: franharmon@sevier.org
University of Tennessee
Center on Disability and Employment
Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: 865-974-9400
Fax: 865-974-9180
Email: cde@tennessee.edu