About Us

Special Education services are an integral part of Needles Unified School District’s comprehensive school system.  Our Special Education program includes a continuum of services for children from birth through twenty-one years of age.  The Needles School District is the largest school district in the United States in terms of geographic area covering nearly 6,000 square miles.  The district is comprised of students that reside in Essex, Amboy, Needles, Havasu Lake, Parker Dam, and Big River, California.  Providing specialized services to students across such a large geographic region has resulted in the district working collaboratively with county schools and neighboring districts in order to provide the best educational programs possible.  Needles District contracts with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) as well as Lake Havasu Unified School District and Parker Unified School District to provide different types of services and programs.   

Instructional and support services are provided by Special Education Teachers, Speech and Language Pathologists, School Psychologists, Clinical Counselors, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Vision and Hearing Specialists, and Paraeducators.  Needles District offers specialized services in the General Education Classrooms, Specialized Academic Instruction Classrooms, Headstart Classrooms, SUCCESS Classrooms, Severely Handicapped Classrooms, Speech Lab, and in the home when necessary.  In compliance with federal and state law, students with disabilities are served in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) to the maximum extent possible.  The Needles Unified School District programs focus on empowering both educators and students to help learners with special needs achieve a higher level of personal self-sufficiency and success in school and within the community.

The Special Education Office is located in Room 508 on the Needles Middle School Campus.  If you would like more information about the Special Education program and services available at NUSD, please do not hesitate to contact us.  

Special Services Department

Jamie Wiesner, Coordinator of Special Education and School Psychologist

Lori Oropeza, Administrative Assistant

1600 Washington Street 

Needles, CA 92363

Phone: (760) 326-2468

Fax: (760) 326-2465