Related Services Decision-Making:

Abstract

This article presents a variety of issues pertaining to how decisions are made about educationally related services for students with disabilities. The first section discusses areas of general agreement in the field, as well as challenges, associated with the current state-of-the-art in related services decision-making. The second major section of the article highlights a series of guidelines that offer alternatives believed to address some of the limitations associated with current practices. Topics include: (a) teamwork; (b) defining educational components; (c) the relationship between program, placement, and services; (d) values that underlie decision-making; (e) functions of related services; (f) critieria for related service decision-making; (g) decision-making authority practices; (h) modes of service provision; (i) location and strategies for service provision; and (j) implementation and evaluation of related services.