Supplementary Aids, Services, & Supports
The Bottom Line
Students with disabilities sometimes require supplementary aids, services, and supports beyond the classroom; the IEP must specifically address:
Extracurricular and nonacademic supports, if a student with a disability is participating in such activities
Any additional support needs for school personnel to equip them to support the student with a disability, including training, specialized equipment, consultation, or other appropriate supports as identified by the student's IEP team.
Go-To Tools
These are your day-to-day useful tools containing many examples. The rest of this page (below this section) is guidance.
Supplementary Aids and Services in Nonacademic and Extracurricular Activities and Services
Students with disabilities have the right to an equal opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities (e.g., athletics, school clubs, community education classes). Activities offered through the district and community education are included in this discussion.
The law does not require that a student with a disability be allowed to participate in any selective or competitive program offered by a school district, so long as the selection or competition criteria are not discriminatory.
To determine if supplementary aids and services are needed to provide a student with an equal opportunity for access, utilize the Extracurricular and Nonacademic Support Decision Flowchart.
Extracurricular and Nonacademic Support Decision Flowchart.pdfProgram Supports for School Personnel
This box is used to describe indirect services — e.g., staff consultation with a regular education teacher on situations resulting from a student’s disability, modifying curriculum or environment for a student, observing a student, monitoring a student’s progress in a specific area, or monitoring equipment or assistive technology used by a student.
Common examples of indirect services that are described here include those provided by:
SCRED Services Coordinators — ⚠️ Always document their support and involvement in the case.
Physical Therapists
Occupational Therapists
School Nurses
DHH teachers
BVI teachers