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Related
Services are defined as a service to assist a child with
a disability to benefit from Special Education. The Individualized
Education
Program (IEP) Team members will make a determination regarding
the specific related services necessary to meet the unique needs
of the child.
Click on an area to learn more:
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Speech-Language Pathology Services
Audiology
Counseling
Psychological Services
School Health Services
Transportation
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Occupation Therapy involves fine motor skills and can enhance a child's
ability to function in an educational program.
OT can assist students with low muscle tone including skills such as:
- self-help skills or adaptive living (eating, dressing)
- fine-motor (e.g., holding a pencil, cutting with
scissors)
- live-skills (e.g., using hands to sort and sequence
items, using a pincer grip with thumb and index finger)
Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy is associated with educational relevant services involving
the gross motor skills. These services address a child's posture, muscle
strength in gross motor abilities, mobility, and organization of movement or
motor planning in educational environments. Physical Therapy services
may:
- provide treatment to increase joint function, muscle
strength, mobility and endurance
- address gross motor skills that rely on the large muscles
of the body involved in physical movement and range of motion
- help improve the student's posture, positioning, gait,
and body awareness
- monitor the function, fit and proper use of mobility aids
and devices
Speech-Language Pathology Services
Speech-Language Pathology Services are provided to address the needs of
children with language and articulation difficulties. Speech delays and
disorders range from simple sound substitutions to the inability to understand
or use language or use the oral-motor mechanism for functional speech and
feeding. Speech services may include:
- screening and/or assessment regarding the identification
of children with possible speech and/or language impairments
- identify and appraise specific speech or language
impairments
- therapy may include, but is not limited to, articulation,
vocabulary development, oral motor exercises
- consult with the child's teacher about the most effective
ways to facilitate the child's communication in the class setting
- consult with the family regarding techniques for
effective intervention and strategies to use in the home and community
setting
- utilize electronic communication devices for non-verbal
children
Normal language development for children involve a range as
follows:
1 to 2 years old: says one to two words, starts
putting two words together (e.g., more juice, go bye-bye)
2 to 3 years old: says two to three word sentences to
talk about and ask for things; speech is understood by familiar listeners most
of the time; often asks for or directs attention to objects by naming objects
3 to 4 years old: talks about activities; individuals
outside of family usually understand child's speech
4 to 5 years old: voice sound is clear; uses sentences
that give details; tells stories; communicates easily with other children and
adults; says most sounds correctly--except for a few that might be difficult
at this age (l, s, r, v, z, ch, sh, th)
Audiology
Audiology services involves the identification of children with hearing
loss. Audiology includes:
- determining the range, nature and degree of hearing loss,
including referral for medical or other professional attention for the
habilitation of hearing
- hearing evaluation, speech conservation, auditory
training, language habilitation
- counseling and guidance to school personnel, parents and
the child regarding the hearing loss
- determining children's needs for group and individual
amplification, and the evaluation of the effectiveness of the
amplification
Counseling
Counseling services are provided as a related service based on the IEP team
members determination. Counseling services may include:
- individual and/or group counseling with the student
- family counseling
- assist the student in dealing with social interactions,
making effective decisions, developing self-knowledge or awareness of
response to anger or other emotions, improving the acknowledgment of
self-responsibility of own actions
- dealing with self-image, self-worth, setting goals,
developing positive attitude towards school and learning
Psychological Services
Psychological Services are available as a related service when necessary
for a student already identified as having a disability and are receiving
special education services under an IEP. These services are provided by
either a school psychologist or a psychometrist. Psychological Services
may include:
- administering psychological and educational tests and
other assessment procedures
- interpreting assessment results
- reviewing existing information, as well as obtaining,
integrating and interpreting information about a student's behavior and
conditions relating to learning in order to conduct a Functional Behavior
Assessment
- services may also include the assistance in developing a
positive Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) involving strategies for
behavior interventions
- consulting with other school personnel and the parent
regarding the appropriate program(s) to meet the student's unique needs as
indicated by psychological tests, interviews, and behavioral evaluations
School Health Services
School Health Services are indicated as a related service when a student
can not attend school without supportive health care. Typically, school
health services are provided by a qualified school nurse or other qualified
trained person who is supervised by a qualified nurse. Health services
may include:
- administering and/or dispensing medications
- classroom modifications for the health needs of the
student
- special feedings
- clean intermittent catheterization
- suctioning
- management of a tracheostomy
- conducting and/or promoting education and skills training
for all (including the student, if possible) school personnel involving
the medical issues of the child
Transportation
Transportation as a related service is determined by the IEP
team members. Transporation includes:
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travel to and from school
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specialized equipment (such as lifts,
ramps, tie-downs) if required to provide special transportation for a
child with a disability
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