Amherst Exempted Village Schools

A 504 Plan is a legal document designed to support students with disabilities who participate in the general education curriculum. While it is not the same as an Individualized Education Program (IEP), some students transitioning from special education to general education may qualify for a 504 Plan.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal civil rights law that ensures students with disabilities receive the necessary accommodations and services to access public education. While all students eligible under IDEA are also covered by Section 504, not all students covered by Section 504 qualify for special education services under IDEA.

To qualify, a student must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, have a record of such an impairment, or be perceived as having one. If eligible, a written 504 Plan may be developed to meet the student’s needs.

For more information or to explore whether your child may qualify, please contact the school counselor at your child’s building.

Child Find (3301-51-03) is a rule which requires school districts to locate, evaluate and identify all students with suspected disabilities living within the Amherst school district. A "child with a disability" is defined as a student having a cognitive disability (mental retardation), a hearing impairment (including deafness), a speech or language impairment, a visual impairment (including blindness), a serious emotional disturbance, an orthopedic impairment, autism, traumatic brain injury, another health impairment, a specific learning disability, deaf-blindness, or multiple-disabilities.

The Amherst Exempted Village School District is asking for your assistance with this important effort. When children are school-age (grades K-12), the district works to identify and evaluate these students so they can receive special education and related services. However, when children are of preschool age or younger, they often go unidentified because parents may not be aware of possible programs available for their child.

Please help us in our effort to serve those children who may be in need as early as possible. If you know of a child who may have one of the disabilities listed and is not currently in school or receiving services, please contact Sarah Walker, Assistant Superintendent at Email Sarah Walker or 440-988-4406.

The Parent Mentors are not employed by the State Support Team but do work collaboratively with the State Support Team, parents and school districts to improve the quality of education for children with disabilities. Parent Mentors are supported by grants from the Ohio Department of Education and employed the Lorain County Educational Service Center.

The role of the parent mentor is to guide families through the special education process. This process includes clarifying parents’ rights and responsibilities; to provide information and resources to families and school personnel on education laws, district programs and services, and community resources; to attend Individual Education Program meetings and other meetings, at the request of the parents and/or school staff; and to build collaborative partnerships between families, schools and community agencies for the purpose of benefiting students with disabilities.

Please contact Kendis Bender, Parent Mentor, at Email Kendis Bender or 440-324-5777 (ext 1167) with questions.  

Sarah Walker serves as the Assistant Superintendent of the Amherst Exempted Village School District. She began her career as an intervention specialist at Avon High School before transitioning into administration, serving as Supervisor of Special Education in both Columbia and Keystone.

She later became the Regional Director of Special Education and Family Services for the State Support Team Region 2, where she built a strong professional network. Ultimately, her passion for working directly with teachers, students, and families brought her back to her hometown of Amherst—a place she’s proud to serve and call home.

Corrie Roark serves as the Coordinator of Special Education and Preschool Director for the Amherst Exempted Village School District. She earned her undergraduate degree in Special Education from Miami University and began her teaching career in Columbus before joining Amherst.

Since then, Corrie has served the district in multiple roles, including Intervention Specialist at both Nord and Powers Elementary, and as Assistant Principal at Powers. Driven by her passion for educational leadership, she went on to earn a master’s degree in Administration from Fort Hays State University. Corrie is dedicated to supporting students, families, and staff across the district through inclusive, student-centered services.