What Is Integrated Therapy?
by Judy Hazelgrove from T/TAC Link Lines May-June 1998 Integrated therapy, like traditional therapy, is governed by the guidelines and policies of the related services professions. Also like traditional therapy, integrated therapy includes various levels of support and degrees of service. Related services accommodate, modify, compensate for, and reduce effects of a disability so a student can participate and benefit from the special education program. As in traditional therapy, goals are written based on individual student needs. So how is it different? In integrated therapy, a student’s related service needs are planned, provided, and assessed ecologically, in natural settings, across disciplines. Skills are found and thus addressed in the clusters which serve functions in a student’s real life. The IEP is collaboratively written and priority skills are determined for student participation, functional independence, and overall benefit from the educational program. Service Delivery Int
