Tulare County Office of Education

Designated Instructional Services

Sandie Sweeney
Program Manager, Mild to Moderate Programs/Preschool Program
(559) 730-2910, Ext. 5141
sandies@tcoe.org

Scott Aldrich
Program Manager, Speech and Language Services
(559) 730-2910, Ext. 5146
scotta@tcoe.org

Designated Instructional Services (DIS), sometimes called Related Services, are any services that are necessary to help a student benefit from his special education program. These services are agreed upon during a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting. The DIS specialist may provide services directly to students or may work with the general education classroom teacher, special class teacher, or resource specialist in providing special instruction or adaptations.

What Services Are Available?

Related services may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Adaptive Physical Education (APE) - Instruction to enable an orthopedically handicapped or similarly impaired child to participate in physical activities with other classmates.
Audiological Services - Hearing evaluations for students who are in, or have been referred for, special education.
Guidance and Counseling - Services provided, when needed, for students to benefit from their educational program.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services - Support and services for deaf and hard of hearing students enrolled in general education classrooms.
Low Incidence Services - Students with low-incidence disabilities (deaf, blind, orthopedically handicapped) who may need readers, transcribers, interpreters, etc.
Speech and Language Services - Therapeutic services for students who have problems producing speech sounds correctly, using words correctly, or understanding language.
Occupational (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT) - Direct and consultation services to assist students whose large (PT) or small (OT) muscle deficiencies impact their educational program.
Orientation and Mobility Services (OM) - Training of the visually impaired in skills necessary to move around within the school and community.
Visually Handicapped Services (VH) - Specialized instruction for the blind or visually impaired, including providing Braille or large-print books.

Who qualifies?

Students between 3 and 22 years of age whose vision, speech, language, hearing, emotional or physical problems affect their ability to benefit from their educational program.

What else do I need to know?

The goal of Designated Instructional Services is to help students overcome or adapt to their specific disabilities both in the classroom and in daily life. Frequently the DIS specialists work with the student in the general education classroom, but services may also be provided in another location at the school. Parents are kept informed about the students' program and progress. Designed Instructional Services may be provided directly by school districts or by TCOE personnel. The need for services and the frequency of service delivery are determined by the IEP team.

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