Wicomico schools report rising autism caseload, highlight services and community partnerships during April update

Kevin Smith, director of special education for Wicomico County Public Schools, reported an increase in the district’s autism caseload and outlined current services and community partnerships during the board’s April meeting.

"As of April, we serve 267 students with autism, an increase of 26 students since October," Kevin Smith said, citing district service numbers. Smith reminded the board of early-intervention and preschool programs housed at the district’s early learning facility and described a weekly sensory-friendly event for families called "Mother Goose on the Loose." He also noted that the district’s Office of Special Education and Early Intervention works with school teams, parents and community leaders and, in cases with parental consent, medical providers to develop specially designed…