My Child is on an IEP, but what things are they entitled to that a school has not told me about?
Parents often tell me they had no idea what services could be provided to their child on an IEP and no one ever told them. What supports and services are possible for your child that has special needs you ask?
Related services* are the supportive services or activities necessary for some students with disabilities to maximize their educational outcomes. Any related service or support that helps a student to benefit from or achieve the goals set out in his or her IEP should be provided by the appropriate related services personnel. Special education and related services are intended to be flexible to meet the needs of an individual student. Appropriately matched to those needs, related services can assist students with disabilities by helping them to:
Participate in the general education curriculum with their peers
Meet their annual educational goals
Take part in extracurricular and nonacademic activities
The additional support provided through related services and related services personnel, also known as specialized instructional support personnel, can help a student in an area of need such as writing, speaking, or moving. There is a wide range of special needs and therefore, there are many different types of related services. Related services might meet a student’s school transportation requirements or help with his or her social-emotional needs. As with special education, related services are not meant to be a one-size-fits-all solution, nor are they disability specific. Rather, related services should be associated with the student’s IEP goals and called out in the IEP. They are intended to help students meet their IEP goals and to be tied to those specific educational outcomes, rather than be mere isolated services. Related services in schools may include but are not limited to:
Audiology
Counseling services
Early identification and assessment of disabilities in children
Interpreting services
Medical services (for diagnostic or evaluation purposes)
Occupational therapy
Orientation and mobility services
Parent counseling and training
Physical therapy
Psychological services
Recreation including therapeutic recreation
Rehabilitation counseling
School health services and school nurse services
Social work services in schools
Speech-language pathology services
Transportation
Speech and Language Therapy: Services provided by speech-language pathologists to improve communication skills, including language, articulation, and fluency.
Occupational therapy: Services provided by occupational therapists to help students with physical or sensory impairments improve their fine motor skills, self-care skills, and overall independence.
Physical therapy: Services provided by physical therapists to help students with physical impairments improve their gross motor skills, coordination, and balance.
Counseling and psychological services: Services provided by counselors and psychologists to help students with emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs.
Vision and hearing services: Services provided by vision and hearing specialists to help students with visual or auditory impairments improve their ability to communicate and learn.
Assistive technology: Services provided to help students with disabilities access and use technology to improve their ability to communicate and learn. Start with requesting an assistive technology evaluation and a consultant will do an evaluation based on what your child requires to make progress and how technology could support them.
Adaptive physical education: Services provided by physical education teachers to help students with disabilities participate in physical activities and sports.
Transition services: Services provided to help students with disabilities plan and prepare for life after high school, including college, vocational training, and employment.
Social skills training: Services provided to help students with disabilities improve their social skills, including making friends, initiating conversations, and understanding social cues.
Parent training and support: Services provided to help parents understand and support their child's special education needs.
Behavioral Consultation from a Board Certified Behavioral Consultant both at home and at school
Recreational Therapy
Music Therapy
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