About Southern will county spec ed
Southern Will County Cooperative for Special Education: Providing Quality Education to Students with Disabilities
Southern Will County Cooperative for Special Education (SOWIC) is a cooperative of ten school districts that provide special education programs and services to approximately 2240 students with disabilities. The cooperative was established in 1969 and has since been committed to providing quality education to students with disabilities.
SOWIC's mission is to provide comprehensive, individualized educational programs and services that meet the unique needs of each student. The cooperative believes that every student deserves an opportunity to learn, grow, and achieve their full potential.
The ten school districts that make up SOWIC are: Beecher School District 200U, Crete-Monee School District 201-U, Mokena School District 159, Peotone Community Unit School District 207-U, Rich Township High School District 227, Steger School District 194, Union Hill School District 2CJ5, Will County School District 92 (Channahon), Wilmington Community Unit School District #209-U and Manhattan SD114.
Each district provides a full continuum of special education services either within their buildings or through the Cooperative or in private facilities. Five of the SOWIC districts employ their own cross-categorical teachers and teacher assistants while SOWIC employs the cross-categorical staff for the other districts.
SOWIC's team consists of highly qualified professionals who are dedicated to providing quality education to students with disabilities. The team includes certified teachers who specialize in various areas such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy as well as social workers and psychologists who work together collaboratively towards achieving common goals.
The cooperative offers a wide range of programs including early childhood intervention services for children from birth through age three; preschool classes for children ages three through five; elementary school classes; middle school classes; high school classes; vocational training programs; transition planning services; assistive technology support services among others.
One unique aspect about SOWIC is its commitment towards inclusion. Inclusion means that all students regardless of their abilities should be included in regular classrooms alongside their non-disabled peers whenever possible. This approach helps promote socialization skills among disabled students while also helping them develop academic skills at an appropriate pace.
Another unique aspect about SOWIC is its focus on parent involvement. Parents play a critical role in ensuring that their child receives quality education tailored towards meeting his/her specific needs. To this end, SOWIC encourages parents/guardians/caregivers to participate actively in all aspects related to their child's educational journey including attending meetings such as Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings where they can contribute valuable insights into what works best for their child.
In conclusion Southern Will County Cooperative for Special Education has been providing quality education tailored towards meeting the unique needs of each student since its establishment over fifty years ago. Its commitment towards inclusion coupled with parent involvement makes it stand out from other cooperatives offering similar services across Illinois State."