Services
Related services are supportive services that are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education. These services may include speech-language pathology and audiology services, interpreting services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, orientation and mobility services, social work services, and health/ school nurse services.
Related services do not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, the optimization of that device’s functioning (e.g., mapping), maintenance of that device, or the replacement of that device.
Assistive Technology
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004, defines Assistive Technology devices, or tools, as “any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability. The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted or the replacement of such a device.”
An assistive technology service is “any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition or use of an assistive technology device.”
The term includes -
The evaluation of the needs of a child with a disability, including a functional evaluation of the child in the child’s customary environment;
Purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by children with disabilities;
Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing, or replacing assistive technology devices;
Coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or services with assistive technology devices, such as those associated with existing education and rehabilitation plans and programs; Training or technical assistance for a child with a disability or, if appropriate, that child’s family; and
Training or technical assistance for professionals (including individuals providing education or rehabilitation services), employers, or other individuals who provide services to, employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions of that child.
Assistive Technology Department:
Elizabeth (Ashley) Meyers - Special Education Administrator
Sara Douglas - Administrative Assistant
Assistive Technology Specialists:
Orange House and Red House
Samantha Hancock, LBS 1
Blue House and Green House
Meghan Manley, SLP
Jessica Dobryzinsi, LBS 1
Bonnie McBeth and Preschool
Daniela Ellis, SLP
Adaptive Driver's education
District 202 may recommend an evaluation to determine if a student requires an adaptive driver's education program. This starts with a clinical occupational therapy evaluation that assesses the individual's vision, perception, cognition and motor function. The second part of the evaluation includes behind-the-wheel, to assesses an individual's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. If the student is eligible, a specialist will discuss with recommendations for driving. Questions regarding adaptive equipment, restricted driving or alternative transportation will also be addressed.
Interpreting Services
Interpreting services includes the following when used with respect to children who are deaf or hard of hearing: oral transliteration services, cued language transliteration services, sign language transliteration and interpreting services, and transcription services, such as communication access real-time translation (CART), C-Print, and TypeWell; and special interpreting services for children who are deaf or blind.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy means services provided by a qualified occupational therapist; and includes improving, developing, or restoring functions impaired or lost through illness, injury, or deprivation; improving ability to perform tasks for independent functioning if functions are impaired or lost; and preventing, through early intervention, initial or further impairment or loss of function.
Recommended Practices for OT and PT Services in Illinois Schools
Orientation and Mobility
Orientation and mobility services mean services provided to blind or visually impaired children by qualified personnel to enable those students to attain systematic orientation to and safe movement within their environments in school, home, and community; and includes teaching children the following, as appropriate:
Spatial and environmental concepts and use of information received by the senses (such as sound, temperature, and vibrations) to establish, maintain, or regain orientation and line of travel (e.g., using sound at a traffic light to cross the street);
To use the long cane or a service animal to supplement visual travel skills or as a tool for safely negotiating the environment for children with no available travel vision;
To understand and use remaining vision and distance low vision aids; and other concepts, techniques, and tools.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy, as a related service, includes gross motor development; mobility; use of adaptive equipment; and consultation and training in handling, positioning, and transferring students with physical impairments.
Recommended Practices for OT and PT Services in Illinois Schools
Psychological Services
Psychological services include administering psychological and educational tests, and other assessment procedures; interpreting assessment results; obtaining, integrating, and interpreting information about child behavior and conditions relating to learning; consulting with other staff members in planning school programs to meet the special educational needs of children as indicated by psychological tests, interviews, direct observation, and behavioral evaluations; and assisting in developing positive behavioral intervention strategies.
School Health Services
Health services that are designed to enable a child with a disability to receive FAPE as described in the child’s IEP. School nurse services are services provided by a qualified school nurse. School health services are services that may be provided by either a qualified school nurse or another qualified person.
Social Work
Social work services in schools include preparing a social or developmental history on a child with a disability; group and individual counseling with the child; working in partnership with parents and others on those problems in a child’s living situation (home, school, and community) that affect the child’s adjustment in school; mobilizing school and community resources to enable the child to learn as effectively as possible in his or her educational program; and assisting in developing positive behavioral intervention strategies.
Speech and Language
Speech-language pathology services include identification of children with speech or language impairments; diagnosis and appraisal of specific speech or language impairments; referral for medical or other professional attention necessary for the habilitation of speech or language impairments; provision of speech and language services for the habilitation or prevention of communicative impairments; and counseling and guidance of parents, children, and teachers regarding speech and language impairments. Speech/language is one of the 13 disability categories or can be a related service under another disability category.
Transportation
If special transportation is required for the child to benefit from the special education program, transportation shall be written in the individual educational program and provided at no cost to the parent.
Transportation includes travel to and from school and between schools; travel in and around school buildings; and specialized equipment if necessary. If a student's disability creates unique needs that make it especially problematic to get the student to school in the same manner that a non-disabled student would get to school in the same circumstances, then transportation may be an appropriate related service.
However, if a student with a disability is capable of using the same transportation services as non-disabled students, then it would be consistent with IDEA-B for the student's placement committee to find that transportation is not required as a related service.
Per ISBE transportation guidelines, School Districts can use vehicles other than yellow school buses to transport students. Districts can also use First Division Vehicles, which is defined in the Illinois Vehicle Code as motor vehicles designed to carry no more than 10 persons total including the driver. Some examples of First Division Vehicles include mini-vans, Suburbans, and cars. For more information review ISBE Guidance, Summary Chart, and the Visual Summary regarding school vehicle use.
All families have access to see their child’s pick up and drop off times in the Home Access Center (HAC). Please refer to the documents below for instructions on how to log into HAC and to review our Special Education Transportation Procedures.
As you may know, the District researched a transportation app for special transportation. Due to safety concerns, the district is not recommending that the app be used for special transportation. The transportation app will only be for general education buses at this time. We will continue to research the feasibility and safety of this app for special transportation.
Please see the following documents for more information about Special Transportation.