Special Education - Part 5: Related Services
Part
1 – Legal Overview
Part
2 – Referals and Assesments
Part
3 – Individualized Education Program (IEP) Meetings
Part
4 – Signing and Writing on the IEP Document
Part
5 – Related Services
Part
6 – Due Process and Dispute Resolution
Part
7 – Compliance Complaints
A. Generally, related services must be provided
when it is necessary for the child to benefit educationally from
his/her special education placement and program. Related services
may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Transportation.
- Mental Health services (individual, collaborative and family)
- Speech and language services
- Audiology services
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Recreation, including therapeutic recreation.
- Social work services.
- Counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling.
- Orientation and mobility services.
B. When a Child’s
Behavior is Impacting Education
- Mental Health under AB3632 – The County Department
of Mental Health (DMH) is responsible for providing mental
health services when required in a child’s IEP.
The IEP team makes a referral to DMH. The
following criteria must be met:
- The child has been assessed by the school district for special
education services.
- The school district has obtained written consent by the
parents/responsible adult.
- The child has significant emotional or behavioral issues that are impeding his/her educational performance. These behaviors cannot solely be described as social
maladjusted or a temporary adjustment
problem.
- The child has the cognitive ability to benefit from mental health services.
- The school district has provided DIS counseling that did not help.
2. Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)
What is it? A behavior
intervention plan is a written document which is developed when
a child exhibits a serious behavior problem that significantly interferes
with the implementation of the goals and objectives of his/her IEP.
It must be based on a functional analysis assessment.
In short: “Behavior
intervention” means a system that is put in place that results
in lasting positive changes in the child’s behavior.
- Functional
Analysis Assessment (“FAA”) – An FAA must be
conducted by, or be under the supervision of a person who has training
in behavior analysis with an emphasis on positive behavioral interventions.
FAA personnel shall gather information from 3 sources: direct observation,
interviews with significant others, and review of available data
such as assessment reports prepared by other professionals.
- The
idea is to develop a behavior plan where inappropriate behaviors
are replaced by positive behavior.
