What is the role of related services in the IEP in relation to accessing education?

• A. They provide supports that enable access to education (e.g., speech-language pathology, occupational therapy)
• B. They replace core instruction
• C. They are optional and only for extracurriculars
• D. They are for students without disabilities

Answer: (A)

Related services are supports that help a student access the educational environment and participate in the curriculum. When a student has a disability, services like speech-language pathology or occupational therapy address barriers to communication, motor skills, or daily functioning so the student can engage with instruction and school activities. They are part of the IEP specifically to enable the student to benefit from special education, not to replace the instructional content itself. These services are provided when the IEP team determines they are needed to access education, and they are not optional or limited to extracurriculars. They are for students with disabilities, not for those without disabilities. For example, speech-language therapy helps the student understand and express language in class, while occupational therapy can improve handwriting or organization so the student can participate fully in learning activities.