Related Services

In previous posts we've look at assistive technology as a way to provide access to general education. AT falls under the general category "Related Services." This is defined 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..." The following are included within the definition of related services:

• speech-language pathology and audiology 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; 
• medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes; 
• school health services; 
• social work services in schools; 
• parent counseling and training; and 
• transportation

This list is not exhaustive. It is important to recognize that each child with a disability may not require all of the available types of related services. Further, "if it is determined through the [IDEA's] evaluation and IEP requirements that a child with a disability requires a particular supportive service in order to receive FAPE, regardless of whether that service is included in these [Federal] regulations, that service can be considered a related service...and must be provided at no cost to the parents" The IEP is a written commitment for the delivery of services to meet a student's educational needs. A school district must ensure that all of the related services specified in the IEP, including the amount, are provided to a student. School districts may not charge parents of eligible students with disabilities for the costs of related services that have been included on the child's IEP. Just as special and regular education must be provided to an eligible student with a disability at no cost to the parent or guardian, so, too, must related services when the IEP team has determined that such services are required in order for the child to receive FAPE and have included them in the student's IEP.

In recent years, there has been a significant shift in where related services are provided. Rather than providing services in a separate room, as was the more common practice in years past, schools are emphasizing providing some services to students in natural activities and environments. Today it is not unusual to find speech-language services integrated into instructional activities in the regular education classroom, or occupational or physical therapy provided during physical education classes in gyms. As an example, asthma medication or glucose monitoring (as a school health service) may be done in the classroom or wherever the student with a disability happens to be. Thus, services may be delivered in a regular education class, a special education class, a gym, a therapy room, or in other locations in the school, home, or community.

You can find more detailed information on Related Services here .

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