Office of Specialized Student Services

Detroit Public Schools provides students with special needs the supports, interventions and enrichment activities they need to flourish. We work to ensure their access to and participation in the varied opportunities DPS provides.

This access to instructional and other support services will result in every individual maximizing their potential to successfully participate in school, work, and community life.

 

Our Services

• Hearing Impairment
• Emotional Impairment
• Cognitive Impairment
• Visual Impairment
• Speech and Language Impairment
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Learning Disabled
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Physical and Other Health Impairments
• Early Childhood Developmental Disorder
• Day Treatment
• Early Intervention (0-3 years)

 

Our Staff

Our staff receives a wide range of training on how to best serve ALL students. And, given the number of schools and programs DPS offers, we have programs and classes to fit students’ needs. Support staff includes trained school psychologists, school nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech pathologists and school social workers.

 

What We Offer

• Instructional support: Ranging from specialized classes to resource teachers supporting students in general education classrooms, DPS strives to educate all students in a general education setting.
• Behavior and counseling support
• Assistance with physical mobility and fine motor skills
• Speech services
• Transition and work skills to help students pursue post-secondary and work opportunities

 

Transportation

Transportation services are provided for students according to the recommendations on their Individualized Education Program.

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Detroit Public Schools Transportation Policy

Direct requests concerning transportation eligibility should come to the Placement Center:

South Wing/Room #168

2001 West Warren
Detroit, MI 48202

Inside the Frederick Douglass College Preparatory Academy for Young Men

Hours of operation:
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Phone: (313) 748-6499
Fax: (313) 748-6498

 

 

Schools

Schools throughout DPS serve students with special needs. The district also offers center-based schools to serve specialized populations.

 

Center-Based Special Education Centers

View map of center-based centers

School Name	Address	Telephone	Description
Charles R. Drew Transition Center	9600 Wyoming Street Detroit, MI 48204-4669	(313) 873-6880	Drew Transition Center is a post-secondary vocational center serving Visually Impaired, Hearing Impaired, Moderately , Severely, and Severely Multiply Cognitively Impaired as well as Physically and Otherwise Health Impaired and students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Students are ages 20-26 years old. They learn independent living and employability skills in real-life environments. The building, which opened in February after a $5.2 million renovation, features a Main Street retail promenade that includes a new wheelchair-accessible theater, working bank, laundry facility, beauty salon, retail clothing store, convenience store, gym and post office.
Detroit Day School For The Deaf	4555 John C. Lodge Freeway Detroit, MI 48201-1056	(313) 494-1803	Students in pre-K through eighth grades learn through American Sign Language and oral instruction.
Field, Moses	1100 Sheridan Detroit, MI 48214-4220	(313) 866-5790	Moses Field is a center-based program designed for students from 3 to 13 years of age. Students are Moderately Cognitively Impaired, Severely Cognitively Impaired, Severely Multiply Impaired or have Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Jerry L. White Center High School	14804 W. McNichols Detroit, MI 48235	(313) 416-4200	Jerry L. White is a center-based special education high school for Visually Impaired, Hearing Impaired, Moderately Cognitively Impaired, Severely Multiply Impaired and Severely Cognitively Impaired students ages 14-19.
Keidan Special Education Center	4441 Collingwood Detroit, MI 48204	(313) 873-9400	Keidan is a center-based school for Moderately Cognitively, Severely Multiply Impaired, Severely Cognitively Impaired and students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. They serve children ages 3-13.
Kettering West Wing	6101 Van Dyke Avenue Detroit, MI 48213	(313) 347-7280	This special education center provides education for students with Moderate and Severe Cognitive Impairments, Severely Multiply Impaired and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Students are age 14 and older.
Oakman Elementary - Orthopedic School	12920 Wadsworth Street Detroit, MI 48227-3757	(313) 873-9540	In addition to serving regular education students in grades pre-K through five, Oakman School serves Physically or Other Health Impaired students in a positive atmosphere where all students can learn.
Turning Point Academy	12300 Linhurst St. Detroit, MI 48205-2627	(313) 866-2200	Turning Point is day treatment program for severely emotionally impaired students in grades K-12.