--- title: Related services for kids who learn and think differently description: What are related services in special education? What are examples of related services? Get a definition of related services and learn how they help kids. slug: related-services-for-kids-with-learning-and-thinking-differences-what-you-need-to-know author: Amanda Morin reviewer: Andrea M. Spencer, PhD published: '2019-08-05T15:01:47.080Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/6PmlFnyu98xQLILwtw07uS/594889168b76fba58fc1b8636ea381da/G607499308.png source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/related-services-for-kids-with-learning-and-thinking-differences-what-you-need-to-know lang: en --- # Related services for kids who learn and think differently Does your child participate in a [social skills group](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/faqs-about-social-skills-groups) at school? Maybe your child goes for [speech-language therapy](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/speech-language-pathologists-what-you-need-to-know) once a week. Or perhaps the teacher works with an [occupational therapist](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/occupational-therapy-what-you-need-to-know) to find ways to improve your child’s writing skills. These are all ways of benefiting from related services. Learn more about these types of services and how kids who learn and think differently get them. ## What are related services? Related services are most often part of an [IEP](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/understanding-individualized-education-programs). Kids usually get them along with some sort of specialized instruction, as part of special education. But in some schools, they *are* the special instruction. That may happen when a child doesn’t get any other services. The main goal of these services isn’t to offer *special* education. It’s to help kids benefit from *general* education. They help make it easier for kids to participate in class and in afterschool activities. For some kids, that might mean transportation services. For others, it’s the help the classroom teacher gets from a professional to [create and use a behavior plan](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/behavior-intervention-plans-what-you-need-to-know). ## How students qualify for related services Often, related services go hand in hand with [special education](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/understanding-special-education). But some kids might only need the related service. Different states and school districts deal with this in different ways. The federal law says states can decide to allow related services to be the only form of special education a child gets. In that case, the related service *is* a child’s specialized instruction. There may be other cases where kids don’t qualify for special education. But they can still get related services under Section 504. This might happen when a child’s challenges don’t have an effect on learning. Here’s an example. A child with dyspraxia may need occupational therapy to help with motor planning. But this child doesn’t need academic help. So occupational therapy may be provided under a 504 plan instead of an IEP. ## What related services can include Related services are as varied and individual as the kids who use them. The federal special education law, IDEA, lists the following as possible related services: - Speech-language and audiology services - Interpreting services - Psychological services - Occupational and physical therapy - Recreation, including therapeutic recreation - [Early identification and evaluation](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/year-by-year-early-intervention-early-screening-and-special-education-evaluation) of disabilities in children - Counseling services, including [rehabilitation counseling](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/vocational-rehab-what-you-need-to-know) - Orientation and mobility - Medical services (but only for diagnostic or evaluation purposes, not for ongoing treatment) - School health and/or school nurse services - Social work services - Parent counseling and training It’s important to know that if there’s a service your child needs and it’s not on the list, such as assistive technology, IDEA says the team should consider it. If you’re just getting started, learn more about the [differences between IEPs and 504 plans](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-difference-between-ieps-and-504-plans). Discover more about [supports and services](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-difference-between-services-and-supports-for-kids-with-learning-and-thinking-differences) and how your child can get them. And if you’re seeking special education for your child, [learn how the process works](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/iep-roadmap-how-to-seek-out-special-education-services-for-your-child). --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/related-services-for-kids-with-learning-and-thinking-differences-what-you-need-to-know#webpage","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/related-services-for-kids-with-learning-and-thinking-differences-what-you-need-to-know","description":"What are related services in special education? 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