When it comes to related services, a question many parents find themselves asking is, ‘How do I know if my child actually NEEDS related services?’ According to special education advocate Dr. Sarah Pelangka:
“It’s really a matter of knowing and understanding your child and what you know can benefit your child. Like, ‘Hey, my child does better typing than handwriting, so can we talk about that?’ Unfortunately, I think parents don’t know what they don’t know. Then the question is, should districts be informing parents of this at the time of this assessment? Of course that should be happening. If there’s ever an area of suspected need, that should be laid out on the table as an area to consider. Is that what’s happening? Usually not, and again, if parents don’t know that that’s an option, that’s where things can kind of go amiss, and then you don’t know that your child could have had access to that related service.”
Related services are specialized supports that a child needs to meet their educational goals, and they’re written into the IEP. Once you know your child could benefit from related services, what’s the next step? And the step after that? This week, we’ll walk you through what a menu of related services can look like (because there are so many variations!), how to request these services in an IEP, how to make sure your child is getting enough of the right support, and so much more!
Did you know there are services you can ask for that are not explicitly listed by IDEA as “related services?” YES! Some examples include recreational therapy, assistive technology, inclusion specialists, and Adapted Physical Education (APE). Find out more in our article What Are Related Services in an IEP?
Want a deeper dive into the specific services that can be included in IEPs to support our kids’ learning? Explore our 101 articles on assistive technology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, 1:1 aides, paraeducators and other school specialists, nursing services, psychological services, and more.
“A lot of parents say their child doesn’t need clinic-based services because they get services at school or vice-versa,” says occupational therapist Melissa Epstein, “but I encourage parents to access as many options as possible because it’s going to help. We work on similar things in a completely different way.”. Read more about school- and clinic-based services in our article IEP Related Services: The Difference Between School-Based and Clinic-Based Services.
Pop quiz: what is the most underutilized related service in the IEP, and how do you ask for it? Special education advocate Dr. Sarah Pelangka gives us the answer in our article 5 Tips to Help Parents Request Services in an IEP.
Navigator win! Did you know that the Undivided platform can help you spot services that may be missing in your child’s IEP? Navigator Jen explains how a second set of eyes can provide you the encouragement to ask, and receive, more help for your child with a disability!
Undivided in the news! Undivided CEO Seth Besse speaks with Marin Magazine about how Undivided can help families of children with disabilities. This is a great article full of resources for neurodivergent support! Read it here!
FREE live virtual event → RSVP now: High School IEPs and the Transition to Adulthood
IEPs evolve in high school, just like our kids do. Join us for a live chat Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. PDT with Undivided Education Advocate Lisa Carey, where we’ll cover major milestones and steps to take from age 14 to 21 so that you can feel confident you’re preparing your teen for adulthood. This event is open to all! Get a link to the event when you RSVP here→
Plus: Lisa is hosting a private Zoom Q&A for Undivided members following the event. Find the Zoom link in your Undivided account!
Office Hours with Education Advocate Lisa Carey
Do you have concerns about your child’s IEP services or other aspects of their education? On Wednesday, September 18, 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. PDT, Lisa will be available to answer questions about all things special education. Bi-weekly Office Hours are virtual Q&A sessions with experts that are open to Undivided members only, so if you’d like to attend, sign up here to begin your free Kickstart!
Undivided Conversations: Get the IEP Related Services and Supports Your Child Needs
Tune in for the ins and outs of IEP related services in our latest Undivided Conversations on Friday, September 13 at 12:00 p.m. PDT. Dr. Sarah Pelangka, special education advocate and owner of KnowIEPs, explains related services in an IEP such as speech therapy, 1:1 aides, AAC, and more. Watch the stream this Friday on our Facebook page!
- What are the most common related services in an IEP? Hear a breakdown from education advocate Lisa Carey on our YouTube channel→
- How do you make sure your child’s related services are being implemented as agreed upon in the IEP? Hear from education advocate Dr. Sarah Pelangka on our Instagram→
- We love hearing parent wins! A parent in our private Facebook group recently shared, “I am inspired to see what [my son] is truly capable of in a different environment with people who support him. Don’t let anyone underestimate your kiddo; they are capable of so much!” Share your family’s win in our Facebook group→
- Why do some organizations say “kids with disabilities” instead of “special needs”? Check out this post from the White House Disability Pride Month we shared on our LinkedIn→
