Child Find is the process of identifying, locating, and evaluating children suspected of having a disability and who may be in need of special education and related services. The school district provides special education services to any child who qualifies as having a disability according to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Operating Standards for Ohio’s Schools Serving Children with Disabilities.

According to IDEA and the Operating Standards for Ohio’s Schools Serving Children with Disabilities, a child may be identified under the following disabilities:

• Autism
• Intellectual Disability
• Deaf-Blindness
• Developmental Delay
• Emotional Disturbance
• Hearing Impairment/Deafness
• Multiple Disabilities
• Orthopedic Impairment
• Other Health Impairment
• Specific Learning Disability
• Speech or Language Impairment
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Visual Impairment

If you suspect your child may have a disability, please contact:

CCS Psychological Services Department: Contact the school that your child attends for more information.

Columbus City Schools is responsible for locating all children birth through 21 years of age with a suspected disability who reside within the Columbus City School district.

CCS collaborates with several county agencies to identify and locate children with suspected disabilities.

• Family and Children First Council – Help Me Grow Program and the Early Childhood Resource Center
• Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities (MR/DD)
• Franklin County ADAMH Board

In addition, CCS works with area Head Start Programs, preschools, and day-care centers to identify children who are suspected of having a disability.

After receiving a referral for a suspected disability from a parent, agency, or school personnel, a team of qualified professionals reviews all available information, including input from the parents and interventions implemented, to determine if a child who is having academic, behavioral, communication, or health problems is suspected of having a disability. In CCS this process usually occurs at a meeting called a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) meeting or an Intervention Assistance Team (IAT) meeting. If the child is determined to have a suspected disability, the school district will evaluate him or her at no cost to the parent within 90 days.

Children who are identified as having a disability are eligible to receive special education and/or related services. An Individualized Education Program (IEP) will be developed by a team of individuals, including the parent(s), a general education teacher, a special education teacher, a school district representative, other individuals who have knowledge of the child, and the child, as appropriate. The IEP will identify what type of special education services the child will receive and where those services will be provided.

Families are encouraged to work with their child's school if there are concerns with the child's learning.  If there are additional questions then you may contact 614 365 5220.