The Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System is a network of nineteen regional centers and three specialized centers in Florida which provides support services to educators, parents, and other professionals who work with exceptional students. FDLRS/Westgate, operating through The School District of Escambia County, is a discretionary project of The Florida Department of Education, and serves Escambia, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa counties in northwest Florida. The FDLRS/Westgate office is located in Pensacola. Staff members can be reached by email or by telephone. Click here for FDLRS Staff.
FDLRS/Westgate offers the following services:
Three Child Find Specialists assist in the location, identification, and placement of children with special needs who are not in school. These children may have hearing impairments, speech and language disorders, emotional problems, physical disabilities, visual impairments, or developmental delays. Anyone can make a referral to Child Find Specialist by calling FDLRS at 469-5423, or 1-888-445-9662.
Three Human
Resource Development Specialists provide direct services to teachers,
parents, and support personnel in the selection of materials and techniques
for working with exceptional students. They also conduct training
on specific topics for teachers and parents, and provide consultation services
as requested.
Services to parents are coordinated
by FDLRS staff member Barbara
Shilling . Other staff members also assist with providing services
to parents. The Child Find Specialists interview parents to obtain information
necessary for appropriate placement of their children with special needs. The
Human Resource Development Specialists offer training on topics of interest
to parents, provide individual consultation services, and maintain a library
of materials for parents to check out. The Instructional Technology Specialist provides training and individual consultation services on assistive/adaptive
technology. Additionally, the ESE Directors in Escambia, Santa Rosa, and
Okaloosa counties co-sponsor, with FDLRS Westgate, annual regional meetings or conferences for parents, professionals, agencies and community
members focusing on teaming and collaboration in educating exceptional students.
One Instructional Technology Specialist, Judy Peacock, serves all three county school districts. This specialist explores the use of computers and other educational technology with exceptional students, offers workshops for teachers and parents, assists with computer programs and other resources, and maintains the Universal Access Station and Software Preview Station .
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to FDLRS/Westgate main page
The Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System is funded by the state of Florida, Department of Education, Division of Public Schools and Community Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, through federal assistance under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B; IDEA, Part B, Preschool; and State General Revenue funds.
