Today's edition of Special Ed e-News published by LRP includes a piece on the five questions to ask parents when they request these related services. As we've reported previously, these requests have increased dramatically in this economy because parents are looking to schools to help them not only juggle busy schedules but to help lighten the burden of job cuts and less money. This certainly includes vision therapy, horse therapy, swim therapy and music therapy, as LRP suggests.

But what about those services that are not as "different or outlandish" as these requests? Heather Pierson of law firm Udall, Shumway & Lyons in Arizona makes the point that just because a service is new or unheard of doesn't make it irrelevant. Hence schools run the risk of a due process hearing amid claims that they have predetermined a student's needs without consulting the entire IEP team.

First and foremost, shouldn't transportation be considered? Far too many schools are still failing to include transportation in the IEP process, so I would think schools should also be reminded that this essential related service move to the top of the list. Not to begrudge a student's need for these other services, but junior needs to get to and from school in the least-restrictive environment ready to learn before he or she can take advantage of other programs offered by a school.