Related Services Paraprofessionals
WORKING WITH PARAPROFESSIONALS IN YOUR SCHOOL
Related Services Paraprofessionals
INTRODUCTION
A variety of non-instructional roles currently are performed by paraprofessionals in schools today. Under federal legislation, schools must ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.
Related services may include health-care services, therapies, or psychological services according to the individual needs of students. These non-instructional roles have federal and state regulations reflecting specific standards. This issue of the NASET’sWorking with Paraprofessionals in Your School addresses the unique aspects of supervising health assistants, paraprofessionals assisting with speech-language programs, and occupational and physical therapy assistants.