Introduction

The Albany Unified School District Special Education department offers services from birth through age 22 to children and young adults who live within the City of Albany and meet eligibility criteria under IDEA, including categories such as autism, intellectual disability, hearing or visual impairment, specific learning disability, speech/language impairment, orthopedic impairment, emotional disturbance, multiple disabilities, traumatic brain injury, and more.

AUSD participates in the Northern Region SELPA, collaborating with Berkeley, Emeryville, Alameda, and Piedmont to coordinate early intervention and special education supports for infants, toddlers, and students through age 22.

Our mission is to deliver specially designed instruction and related services—including speech/language therapy, occupational or physical therapy, assistive technology, behavioral support, developmental evaluations, and an Adult Transition Program—as needed for each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).

At AUSD, we uphold the principle that inclusion is fundamental to our community. Whenever appropriate, students with disabilities learn alongside their general-education peers in the least restrictive environment, with support such as aides or co-teaching models, supplemented by specialized classes when necessary.

Our Special Education team, led by Executive Director Brian Biggs, Ed.D., is composed of a dedicated network of professionals—including a program coordinator, program specialists, special education teachers, speech-language pathologists, school psychologists, occupational and physical therapists, an assistive technology specialist, a behavior analyst, paraeducators, and technicians—all working collaboratively to deliver individualized services, support learning goals, and promote student independence.

We are committed to promoting equity, diversity, and excellence across the district community. By continually assessing service delivery and implementing improvement plans, we strive to ensure that every student has access to the resources they need to reach their full potential, both academically and personally.

Explore the AUSD website to learn more about our comprehensive programs, resources for families, procedural safeguards, the Special Education Guide for Parents/Caregivers, and details about the Adult Transition Program.

Welcome to a community where every learner matters, and every student is empowered to thrive.