Educational psychologists from the Dougherty County Exceptional Students Program are each assigned a cluster of public schools. They have responsibilities for all disabled children within their cluster. The Dougherty County school district is committed to the philosophy that all children can learn and "every student, regardless of disability, should have the opportunity to be part of age-appropriate regular classroom activities."
Oak Tree is the Dougherty County GNETS center. Serving children exhibiting emotional disturbance or autism, the Center provides consultancy, student evaluations, treatment classes and family support . Full-time admission to the program as an alternative school is available only to children with severe emotional needs. Children with intellectual disabilities or developmental delay are eligible only if they also have autism or Emotional Behavioral Disorder, or EBD. Admission requires an eligibility assessment and case study documenting the emotional or autistic symptoms. Students may remain at Oak Tree until the age of 21. Referral should be through the child's teacher or mental health professional or the Department of Family Services.
Albany Autism Center on West Third Avenue is a private non-profit. Students receive occupational, speech, behavioral and social therapy. They are taught by specialist teachers using Applied Behavioral Analysis, or ABA. This approach involves breaking each desired task or behavior into small, teachable "chunks." This technique is also taught to parents. ABA requires that teachers and parents give each student lots of focused, one-on-one attention.
Disabled or at-risk children up to four years old may be referred to Albany Arc Preschool by any concerned individual. The preschool meets at the Arc Resource Center on West Broad Avenue in Albany and offers transportation. Each child is assessed on admission and given an individual treatment plan. Progress is monitored and recorded daily. The program director is a specialist Judevine autism teacher and the Resource Center also provides Judevine training and consultations. At a family's request they will provide autism advocacy in school, advising class teachers on appropriate activities and Individual Education Plans.
Mentally disabled students over 16 may attend Turner Job Corps Center in Albany. This provides residential independent living while teaching workforce skills. Accommodation is in separate male and female dormitories. Instruction covers life skills, health and hygiene and money management. Mental health care is available. There are recreational and sports activities. Students receive a bi-weekly allowance in exchange for work and may request weekend passes to visit with family. Student residents of Albany may attend Job Corps as day students.