SESIS IEPs: Guide for Students with Orientation and Mobility Needs in NYC Schools

The system is especially critical for students requiring specialized services such as Orientation and Mobility (O&M), speech therapy, or occupational therapy as it documents their current performance, identifies specific needs, sets measurable goals and outlines recommended programs and services. The New York City Department of Education (DOE) uses SESIS the Statewide Educational Planning System to help students with special learning needs. For students who need Orientation and Mobility (O&M) services, SESIS is the main tool for recording, planning, and carrying out their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Here’s a simple overview of how SESIS supports these students:

SESIS as a Digital Hub

• SESIS serves as the central platform where IEPs are created, tracked and updated.
• It ensures that each student receives personalized support tailored to their abilities and challenges.
• Educators, parents, and specialists collaborate within this system to maintain a comprehensive record of the student’s educational journey.

Present Level of Performance and Individual Needs

This section provides a detailed overview of the student’s current abilities, including academic performance, physical development, and individual strengths.

It documents the specific needs of the student, including environmental, human, or material resources required to support O&M.

For students with vision impairments, this includes:

• Nature and severity of the visual impairment.
• Visual acuity and visual field assessments.
• Effects of the impairment on mobility and safety, both indoors and outdoors.

Input is gathered from O&M evaluators, teachers, and parents to understand real-world challenges, such as navigating hallways, crossing streets, or using public transportation.

Annual Goals and Objectives

Goals are designed to be SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

For students on alternate assessments, short-term objectives are included.

Examples of O&M goals may include:

• Mastering basic cane skills.
• Navigating specific routes in the neighborhood.
• Using public transportation independently.

SESIS provides templates and sample goals to ensure consistency and clarity in planning.

Recommended Programs and Services

• Specifies the O&M mandate, including which services are required and by whom.
• Identifies whether an Orientation and Mobility teacher or a paraprofessional will deliver services.
• Documents the locations for service delivery, whether on school grounds, in the neighborhood, or in the broader community.
• Ensures that O&M instruction is practical, personalized, and applicable to the student’s daily life.

Collaboration and Implementation

• SESIS acts as a framework for collaboration among educators, specialists, and families.
• Helps create a roadmap for independence ensuring that students with visual impairments gain the skills and confidence to navigate their environment safely.
• Supports ongoing monitoring and updates allowing IEPs to evolve with the student’s progress.

Conclusion

SESIS IEPs serve as a vital tool for ensuring that students with special educational needs receive personalized, well-structured support. By centralizing all aspects of a student’s educational plan within the Statewide Educational Planning System (SESIS) these IEPs provide a clear and detailed record of a student’s current abilities, challenges and required services. They allow educators, specialists and families to collaborate effectively in setting specific, measurable, and achievable goals, while also outlining the programs, services, and delivery methods necessary to meet those objectives. For students requiring Orientation and Mobility (O&M) services, SESIS IEPs are particularly important as they carefully document the impact of visual or physical impairments on mobility and daily activities, ensuring that instruction is practical, relevant and tailored to real-world situations. By offering a structured, centralized and transparent framework, SESIS IEPs help students build independence, confidence and essential life skills while enabling ongoing monitoring and adjustments to their educational plan.

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