Austill’s provides PT, OT, Speech and ABA services which are considered related services under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The services are provided to support the Individualized Education Program (IEP) for students ages 3-21, who have a disability that interferes with their educational performance and ability to benefit from the educational program. Our therapists will be integrated as members of the student’s multi-disciplinary school team. As Related Service providers, therapists help to ensure a free and appropriate education (FAPE) for students with a disability to allow them to access their educational environment.
Students can also qualify for school-based services through a 504. This type of plan falls under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, part of the federal civil rights law. A 504 plan outlines how a child’s specific needs are met with accommodations, modification and other services. School-based therapists specific roles and responsibilities include: participate in the IEP/504 evaluation process, work collaboratively with students’ IEP teams, measure and document student progress, teach, train and consult with educational personnel, adapt environments to facilitate access, and supporting the safe transportation of students.
At Austill’s, our therapists have the opportunity to implement a student’s IEP in a variety of settings: public schools, private schools, charter and cyber schools, preschools, community settings, home and transitional workplaces. The individual interventions performed in each setting vary dependent on the functional skills the student needs to complete. The introductory resource Austill’s has is a customized Learning Plan designed to explain school system therapy services including legal components and practical strategies concerning scheduling, school personnel, documentation and timelines.