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The Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Bucks IU) is proud to announce its selection as the recipient of the 2024 McLean Yoder Award for Professional Excellence. This prestigious honor, presented by the National Joint Committee (NJC) for the Communicative Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities (https://www.asha.org/njc/), recognizes the outstanding work of the Bucks IU Related Services Team at Samuel Everitt, located in Levittown, Pennsylvania. The NJC’s decision followed a rigorous evaluation of nationwide nominations, based on exemplary adherence to quality indicators in communication assessment, goal setting, and program implementation. Gina Meissler, Program Director of Related Services at the Bucks IU, praised the team: “The dedication to our students, collaboration with one another, and the unwavering professionalism this Bucks IU Team brings to every challenge is inspiring. This award reflects the impact our staff and programs have on the lives of students and families.” The NJC co-chairs commended the Bucks IU Related Services Team for their commitment to inclusive educational practices. The team's efforts to provide high-quality communication support for students with complex needs through interprofessional collaboration stood out among this year’s nominees. Dr. Janean Ciancia, Principal of the Bucks IU at Samuel Everitt, shared her thoughts: “This recognition truly reflects the exceptional dedication, expertise, and leadership of the Samuel Everitt Related Services Team. Every day, this team demonstrates perseverance and care in supporting our students, ensuring their individual needs are met and their potential realized.” At the Bucks IU at Samuel Everitt, students from K-12 with diverse disabilities, such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, vision and hearing impairments, and other cognitive and physical challenges, receive personalized communication support. The Bucks IU Related Services Team employs a variety of tools tailored to each student’s needs, including spoken language, picture exchange, sign language, and both low- and high-tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems. The team emphasizes a transdisciplinary approach, collaborating across service and education providers to center on each student’s abilities and needs. Therapists engage in regular interprofessional practice discussions and often co-treat within classrooms, ensuring continuity, curriculum alignment, and skill generalization. AAC systems are seamlessly integrated into daily activities such as school jobs, community outings, classroom instruction, and even bus rides. Teachers and classroom assistants receive ongoing training from clinicians to support this integration effectively. Dr. Mark Hoffman, Bucks IU Executive Director, honored the winners by stating, “The Related Services Team at our Samuel Everitt school continues to raise the bar for providing communication skills support to students with special needs. I am proud of their many contributions to student success.” In January 2025, the award will be officially presented to the team. ABOUT THE BUCKS COUNTY INTERMEDIATE UNIT (Bucks IU): Celebrating over 50 years of service! The Bucks IU supports improvements and advancements in student learning by providing exceptional educational programs, innovative professional development, and advanced business/technology services. We serve people from ages birth through adults, students in public and private schools along with their staff and administrators, and the community of Bucks County. The Bucks IU is also the liaison between local schools and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. For more information, go to www.BucksIU.org or call 215-348-2940.
The Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Bucks IU) is proud to announce its selection as the recipient of the 2024 McLean Yoder Award for Professional Excellence. This prestigious honor, presented by the National Joint Committee (NJC) for the Communicative Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities (https://www.asha.org/njc/), recognizes the outstanding work of the Bucks IU Related Services Team at Samuel Everitt, located in Levittown, Pennsylvania. The NJC’s decision followed a rigorous evaluation of nationwide nominations, based on exemplary adherence to quality indicators in communication assessment, goal setting, and program implementation.
Gina Meissler, Program Director of Related Services at the Bucks IU, praised the team: “The dedication to our students, collaboration with one another, and the unwavering professionalism this Bucks IU Team brings to every challenge is inspiring. This award reflects the impact our staff and programs have on the lives of students and families.”
The NJC co-chairs commended the Bucks IU Related Services Team for their commitment to inclusive educational practices. The team's efforts to provide high-quality communication support for students with complex needs through interprofessional collaboration stood out among this year’s nominees.
Dr. Janean Ciancia, Principal of the Bucks IU at Samuel Everitt, shared her thoughts: “This recognition truly reflects the exceptional dedication, expertise, and leadership of the Samuel Everitt Related Services Team. Every day, this team demonstrates perseverance and care in supporting our students, ensuring their individual needs are met and their potential realized.”
At the Bucks IU at Samuel Everitt, students from K-12 with diverse disabilities, such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, vision and hearing impairments, and other cognitive and physical challenges, receive personalized communication support. The Bucks IU Related Services Team employs a variety of tools tailored to each student’s needs, including spoken language, picture exchange, sign language, and both low- and high-tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems.
The team emphasizes a transdisciplinary approach, collaborating across service and education providers to center on each student’s abilities and needs. Therapists engage in regular interprofessional practice discussions and often co-treat within classrooms, ensuring continuity, curriculum alignment, and skill generalization.
AAC systems are seamlessly integrated into daily activities such as school jobs, community outings, classroom instruction, and even bus rides. Teachers and classroom assistants receive ongoing training from clinicians to support this integration effectively.
Dr. Mark Hoffman, Bucks IU Executive Director, honored the winners by stating, “The Related Services Team at our Samuel Everitt school continues to raise the bar for providing communication skills support to students with special needs. I am proud of their many contributions to student success.”
In January 2025, the award will be officially presented to the team.
ABOUT THE BUCKS COUNTY INTERMEDIATE UNIT (Bucks IU):
Celebrating over 50 years of service! The Bucks IU supports improvements and advancements in student learning by providing exceptional educational programs, innovative professional development, and advanced business/technology services. We serve people from ages birth through adults, students in public and private schools along with their staff and administrators, and the community of Bucks County. The Bucks IU is also the liaison between local schools and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. For more information, go to www.BucksIU.org or call 215-348-2940.