Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), "related services" are the supports a student with a disability needs in order to benefit from special education. They aren't extras. When a related service is written into a student's IEP, the school is responsible for providing it.
Common related services
- Speech-language therapy — communication, language, articulation, and AAC
- Occupational therapy — fine motor, sensory, visual-motor, and self-care skills
- Physical therapy — mobility, gross motor skills, and safe access around school
- School health and nursing services — medication, health plans, and medical procedures during the day
- Counseling and social work services — social-emotional support, coping skills, and family connection
- Psychological services — assessment and consultation
- Interpreting services — including sign language interpreting
- Orientation and mobility, audiology, and transportation
Who provides them
Related services are provided by licensed or credentialed professionals — speech-language pathologists, occupational and physical therapists, school nurses, school psychologists, social workers, and interpreters — and in many states by supervised assistants such as SLPAs, COTAs, and PTAs.
How services are delivered
Services can be delivered in a separate room (pull-out), in the classroom (push-in), through consultation with the teacher, or in some cases through teletherapy. The IEP spells out the type of service, how often, for how long, and where.
Why staffing matters
Many districts struggle to hire related-service providers, especially SLPs, OTs, school psychologists, and nurses. When a position sits empty, students can miss service minutes the school is legally required to provide. That's why many schools use contract providers to cover vacancies, leaves, and caseload growth.
EDU-AIDs staffs related-service providers for schools and districts nationwide — for full caseloads, evaluations, and short-term coverage.
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