“Related services” are special therapies and supports in school. These are called “related services.” To get these, the IEP/504 team has to agree that your child needs the service to do better in school. Some common services are:

Transportation services*: These include busing, special equipment, or helping your child get around safely.

Nursing services*: These include taking medicine, having someone check on your child, or a nurse teaching your child how to take care of herself.

Audiology services: These include tests to identify hearing loss or auditory problems, equipment and therapy to help with your child’s hearing.

Social work services*: These include social skills training, behavioral/emotional coping strategies, and a behavior intervention plan.

Physical therapy (PT): In PT, your child works with a therapist to get stronger or walk better.

Occupational therapy (OT): In OT, a therapist helps your child learn skills that will make it easier for her to take part in class and other school activities.

Assistive technology*: These include giving your child tools, equipment, and software, and teaching her how to use them.

Interpreting services: These are for your child if she is deaf, hard of hearing, or blind.

Mobility and orientation services: These are for your child if she is blind or visually impaired. This can help your child learn how to safely move around the school and community.

Paraprofessional support: An adult can work with just your child or a small group of students to help with your child’s medical/ health, academic, or behavioral needs.

*Equip for Equality has fact sheets specific to this service. Contact the Special Education Rights Helpline if you would like more information about this kind of service/therapy.

If your child gets outside therapies, it does not mean she automatically gets in-school therapies that are paid for by the school. Your child’s 504/IEP team has to agree that your child needs a therapy to do better in school or to learn.

You can ask your child’s outside therapist or doctor to help you get these services added to your child’s IEP/504 Plan.

If you think your child needs a new service or more of a service she already has, you should:

• Ask your child’s teachers how she is doing. Is she safe? Is she learning? Is she playing with her classmates?
• Talk to your child’s outside therapists and doctors about what they see. Ask them  to help you by going to see your child in school or going to a meeting with you.
• Go see your child in school so you can give specific examples of how your child’s skills are lower than her classmates’ skills.
• Review your child’s school records for proof that she needs this service.
• Ask for an evaluation or a re-evaluation.
• Get an outside evaluation through your insurance or by paying for one.
• Email the school to ask for a meeting to discuss your child’s need for this service. Be ready to show proof that she needs this service.

See Equip for Equality’s “How to be a Strong Voice for Your Child’s Special Education Needs” fact sheet for more tips and strategies.

Email the school explaining why you disagree with the team’s decision to not add this service. Ask for an IEP Meeting to talk about the problem.

See Equip for Equality’s “What to Do When You Disagree with the School” fact sheet for more information on how to work through disagreements with the school.