Related services are defined as transportation and such developmental, corrective, and other supportive services required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education.  Related services include such services as assistive technology services, audiology services, interpreting services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, counseling, in-home and parent training, orientation and mobility services, school health services, social work services, and transportation.  Related services do not include cochlear implants or other medical devices that are surgically implanted, the optimization of device functioning, maintenance of the device or replacement of the device. 

Occupational and physical therapy includes improving, developing, or restoring functions impaired or lost through illness, injury, or deprivation, improving the ability to perform tasks for independent functioning, and preventing further impairment or loss of such function.  Educational-based occupational and physical therapies focus on the educational setting of the student and address any needs that the student has in order to benefit form his or her special education services.  These therapies are not clinical in nature and thus the focus of the therapy is not on the individual child, but on how the child is able to function within the school environment.  In the Southeast Texas Cooperative for Special Services, eligibility for occupational and physical therapy is based on an evaluation conducted by a certified occupational or physical therapist.  The evaluation process begins with a consultation.  If services are indicated, the therapist works with the classroom teacher to develop goals and objectives to address specified needs and then becomes one of the implementers of the child's individualized educational program.  As such, occupational and physical therapy services are generally provided in the regular or special education classroom in order to best support the child with the educational environment. 

 Note:  If physical therapy is indicated, a physician's referral for services is required prior to beginning services. 

Orientation and mobility services are provided by qualified personnel for blind or visually impaired students to enable those students to attain systematic orientation to and safe movement within their environments in school, home, and community.  It includes teaching students spatial and environmental concepts and the use of information received by the senses, the use of a cane or service animal to supplement visual travel skills, and instruction in the understanding and use of remaining vision and distance low vision aids.  The Southeast Texas Cooperative for Special Services works with orientation and mobility specialists for the evaluation and provision or orientation and mobility services. 

For students who are identified as having autism or a pervasive developmental delay, the ARD Committee must consider the need for in-home training and parent training.  The provision of in-home training and parent training, however, is not dependent on disability, but on the individual needs of the child.  In-home and parent training are intended to assist a child who has demonstrated mastery of certain skills within the school environment to generalize those same skills to the home or community environment.  The areas that in-home training and parent training cover are behavior, communication, socialization and self-help skills.  In the Southeast Texas Cooperative for Special Services, eligibility for in-home and parent training is based on an evaluation conducted by a professional experienced in working with children with autism and who has had training in in-home and parent training.  Individuals who conduct in-home and parent training are professionals who have had training in the area of autism and in-home training.  Parent training may be done individually within the home and community environment, or it may be through parent trainings that are offered throughout the school year by the Southeast Texas Cooperative for Special Services.  Information from parents regarding training topics is sought annually and the training schedule developed accordingly.

Co-op Businesses

We would like to give a special Thank You! to the following businesses who support the Cooperative Employment Experience Class:

Regular Graduation with TAKS or TAKS Accommodated

-Received all instruction in general education curriculum (TEKS)

-On grade level, no content modifications

-Passed all classes with at least 70%

-Passed TAKS or TAKS Accommodated

-Graduation under Recommended or Distinguished Program

Regular Graduation Participation on Exit Level Assessment

-Received all instruction in general education curriculum (TEKS)

-All instruction on grade level, no content modification

-Passed all classes with at least 70%

-Participation in state and district-wide assessments (TAKS or TAKS Accommodated)

-ARD Committee decision whether passing assessment is requirement for graduation

-Graduation under Minimum Program

Graduation by IEP

Student successfully completes IEP as shown when:

-IEP goals are mastered

-Curriculum and credit requirements completed/mastered at 70%

-Participation in state and district assessments

-Demonstration of one of the three conditions:

• Full time Employment
• Specific Employability and Self-Help skills
• Access to Services not Provided by School

Graduation by End of Age Eligibility

-Student no longer meets age eligibility (age 21 on September 1)

-Mastered IEP goals/objectives

-Participated in state/district assessments

The Southeast Texas Cooperative for Special Services provides homebound instruction for students eligible for Special Education services who are unable to attend a classroom program for four weeks or longer due to a serious illness, injury, or certain other conditions as documented by a licensed physician.  Homebound services may also be appropriate for students with chronic illnesses.  A chronically ill student is one whose medical condition is generally considered to be life threatening or end stage.  Documentation from a licensed physician that the student is expected to be confined for any period of time totaling at least four weeks during a school year is required.  Homebound instruction is provided for a minimum of four hours each week in the student's home and credits the student with full-time school attendance.  This instructional setting is in accordance with the Texas Education Agency Student Attendance Accounting Handbook guidelines.  Homebound is not provided for students with any communicable, contagious disease until the attending physician declares the student no longer contagious.  Students are dismissed from homebound services when released by the physician or when there is no longer any current documentation that supports homebound services.  Cases varying in nature from the above situations will be considered and resolved by the Admission, Review, and Dismissal Committee(ARD).