IEP Basics
Related Services in an IEP: What They Are and How to Get Them
If your child needs more than specialized instruction to benefit from their education, they may be entitled to related services, all at no cost to your family.
What IDEA Says About Related Services
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, related services are defined as transportation and developmental, corrective, and other supportive services required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education. The law lists specific examples but makes clear the list is not exhaustive.
The key phrase is "required to benefit." A related service does not have to make your child perfect or fix every challenge. It has to help them access and make progress in their educational program. That is a lower bar than many schools imply.
Common Related Services
IDEA explicitly includes the following as related services:
- Speech-language pathology and audiology
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Psychological services
- Counseling services
- School health and nursing services
- Social work services
- Parent counseling and training
- Recreation and therapeutic recreation
- Orientation and mobility services (for students with visual impairments)
- Transportation
- Assistive technology services
- Interpreting services
- Early identification and assessment
How Related Services Are Added to an IEP
Related services should appear in the IEP document with the type of service, frequency (how many sessions per week or month), duration (how long each session lasts), location (pull-out, push-in, or somewhere else), and the service provider's credentials.
If the IEP team agrees your child needs a service, it must be written into the IEP and provided at no cost to you. Schools cannot make you use private insurance, health coverage, or out-of-pocket payment for services required by the IEP without your consent. Even then, there are limits on when insurance can be billed.
How to Request a Related Service
If you believe your child needs a related service that is not currently on their IEP, submit a written request to the special education coordinator or IEP team. The school must consider your request and respond in writing through a Prior Written Notice explaining what action they will take, or what action they are declining to take, and why.
You can also request an evaluation specifically to assess whether your child needs a particular service. For example, you might request an occupational therapy evaluation if you are concerned about fine motor skills or sensory processing that is affecting schoolwork.
When Schools Reduce or Deny Related Services
Schools sometimes reduce related services during an IEP review, citing progress or resources. They cannot legally reduce a service simply because they lack staff. Any change to related services must be based on your child's needs, and you must receive Prior Written Notice before any change takes effect.
If you disagree with a reduction or denial, you can:
- Request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) to get a second opinion on your child's needs
- File a state special education complaint with your state education agency
- Request mediation
- File for a due process hearing
Frequency and Duration Matter
It is not enough for the IEP to list a service. The frequency and duration must be sufficient for your child to make meaningful progress. If your child receives speech therapy once a month for 20 minutes and is not progressing, that schedule may be inadequate even if the service is on paper.
Keep data. Review your child's progress reports. If the service is not resulting in measurable progress toward IEP goals, bring that data to the next IEP meeting and request a change.