Services & Supports
Continuum of Services
At District 90, we know every child learns differently. We offer a full spectrum (continuum) of special education support from preschool through 8th grade. Depending on your child’s unique needs, supports can range from extra help inside their regular classroom to small-group specialized instruction.
What Are Related Services?
Related Services are extra supports built directly into a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). They are designed to help your child fully access, participate in, and benefit from their special education experience at school. Click on a title below to learn more about the related service.
Our Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) help students build the communication skills they need to thrive in the classroom and connect with others.
- What we focus on: Clear speech (articulation), speaking smoothly (fluency), understanding spoken language (receptive language), expressing thoughts and ideas (expressive language), and social communication skills (pragmatics).
- School Focus: In addition to working directly with students, our SLPs collaborate closely with teachers so these communication strategies are supported throughout your child's entire school day.
Our Occupational Therapists help students develop the physical and self-care skills necessary to comfortably navigate the school environment.
What we focus on:
- Fine Motor Skills: Hand strength and coordination for writing, cutting, and using tools.
- Sensory Processing: Helping students manage sensory input so they can stay calm and focused.
- Self-Help & Independence: Everyday school tasks like managing buttons, zippers, or organizing materials.
- School Focus: OT services are provided when a difficulty in one of these areas directly impacts your child's ability to participate and succeed at school.
- Direct OT services require a prescription from a physician.
Our Physical Therapists focus on movement, balance, and physical independence around the school building.
What we focus on:
- Gross Motor Skills: Large-muscle movements like walking, running, and climbing stairs.
- Classroom Function: Sitting upright comfortably, moving safely between classroom spaces, and participating in physical activities.
- School Access: Navigating hallways, playgrounds, cafeterias, and buses.
- School Focus: PT services are provided when physical challenges make it difficult for a student to safely move through or function within their school environment.
- Direct PT services require a prescription from a physician.
Our School Social Workers help students develop the emotional and social tools they need to succeed academically and build healthy relationships at school.
- Building Practical Skills: School-based social work is not long-term mental health therapy. Instead, social workers identify specific skill gaps that are impacting the student at school (like managing big emotions or resolving conflicts) and teach students practical tools through modeling, direct instruction, and practice.
- School Success First: Every goal and activity focuses on helping your child feel supported and confident in their learning environment.
- Family & Community Support: Social workers also provide crisis intervention, short-term support during major life events, and help link families with helpful community resources.
- School Social Work and Private Therapy differ. To learn more about how, please view School Social Work & Private Therapy Differences
We partner with the Cooperative for Special Education (CASE) to support students with vision or hearing needs.
- Specialized Expertise: Certified vision and hearing specialists (itinerants) work directly with eligible students and consult with IEP teams to ensure classrooms are fully accessible.
- Learn More: You can explore additional information about these specialized supports on the CASE Website.