About TCSEA

Tri-County Special Education Association was established in 1967 to help school districts in McLean, DeWitt and Logan Counties meet the special education needs of students, parents, educators and administrators. Today, the association employs a staff of 46 people as administrators, supervisors, social workers, psychologists, occupational or physical therapists or assistants, secretaries and speech-language pathologists. Tri-County maintains offices in Bloomington, Clinton and Lincoln.

Tri-County is a decentralized cooperative. This means that member districts provide special education programs to students with disabilities, while the cooperative provides support services to districts, students and families. Support services might include therapeutic intervention or consultation, administration, student assessment, program consultation, or professional development.

Just as 15 member districts belong to Tri-County, Tri-County is a member of the Heart of Illinois Low Incidence Association.

Heart of Illinois Low Incidence Association (HILIA)

( NOTE: Low-incidence disabilities are those that affect a comparatively small number of students in a district.)

HILIA is a regional program that combines resources to effectively meet the needs of students with low incidence disabilities including hearing, vision, and motor disabilities. HILIA exists as a collaboration between Tri-County Special Education Association, Mackinaw Valley Special Education, Bloomington District #87, Livingston County Special Services Unit, and Illinois State University Laboratory Schools.

The Illinois State University Laboratory Schools (Thomas Metcalf School and University High School) provide special education instructional programs for students with hearing or vision disabilities. Linda Seth coordinates those programs. Three HILIA facilitators support the unique needs of these students in lab school or district programs: Deb Trissel (hearing), Jan Harrell (vision), and Missi Adams (Assistive Technology and Motor).

For inquiries about HILIA programs and services, please contact your local building principal or Tri-County Special Education Association Supervisor.