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What are related services within the special education environment?
Related services in the special education world, are services that are required for a specific child’s situation, which facilitate their ability to benefit from special education services.
Yes! The concept of a related service is part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA is a US federal statute that governs the education of students with disabilities and related services. It was put in place to ensure that public schools serve the educational needs of students with disabilities by providing them with special education services.
Section 300.34 of IDEA defines related services as “…transportation and such developmental, corrective, and other supportive services as are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education…”
This section of IDEA is relatively short. If you want to read it, click HERE.
IDEA includes many areas/services including transportation to and from school. Some the areas included in developmental supportive services are:
“…speech-language pathology and audiology services, interpreting services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, including therapeutic recreation, early identification and assessment of disabilities in children, counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling, orientation and mobility services, and medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes. Related services also include school health services and school nurse services, social work services in schools, and parent counseling and training…”
Your child might qualify for a realated service if they struggle to benefit from their education without supports in such areas as:
Communication (SLP) – articulation, receptive and expressive language…
Fine motor control (OT) – the ability to hold a pencil or type on a keyboard…
Gross motor (PT) – the ability to walk up and down stairs, safely sit on a chair…
Vision or Hearing – ability to see or hear in the educational environment…
Orientation and mobility (OM)- navigating as a non-seeing person…
Basically, IDEA mandates a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for your child with special needs. Your specific situation will dictate whether you qualify for any related services. If you have further questions, or believe your student should be receiving related services, please fee free to get in touch – I offer a free initial consultation – click to request yours.
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