Sorensen Announces Investment to Expand Telehealth Access for Students in Rural Communities

PEORIA, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are announcing $388,359 for the Tri-County Special Education Association to expand telehealth access to students in rural school districts across Central Illinois. 

“The Tri-County Special Education Association plays an important role in giving students who live in our rural neighborhoods the chance to succeed in the classroom,” said Sorensen. “This funding will ensure Central Illinois is sustainable for the next generation. We cannot let our rural hometowns and schools get left behind.” 

“Tri-County is made of 16 rural districts from McLean, Logan and Dewitt Counties. The Rural Utility Service-Distance Learning and Telemedicine (RUS-DLT) grant is provided through the USDA and will allow rural schools to put technology into their schools that will allow students and their parents to connect to health and mental health services that are not available locally.  It also allows our member districts to access Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Behavioral Therapy and Speech therapy, virtually when those services can't be provided in person due to a lack of certified staff in the area,” said Scott Hogan, Director of the Tri County Special Education Association. 

This award comes as part of USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants Program and will allow the Tri-County Special Education Association to help rural school districts administer therapy services virtually when those services can't be provided in person due to a lack of certified staff in the area. 

The 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.  

The association employs a staff of approximately 50 people as administrators, supervisors, social workers, psychologists, occupational or physical therapists or assistants, secretaries and speech-language pathologists. 

Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal. 

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