The Pilgrim Area Collaborative employs an Integrated Related Service model which has evolved over time and is based on knowledge acquired through training, coursework and the experience of our staff. The Term related services refers to those supportive services such as speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy and counseling, as are required to assist a student to benefit from special education. (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990. Sec. 140(a) (17)

The Pilgrim Area Collaborative Integrated Related Services approach is a strategy to deliver related services as often as possible in situations in which skills will be functional and performance meaningful for an individual student. Therapy is interwoven into a variety of activities continuously throughout the day in a naturalized manner. Skills and activities are taught within the context of settings where they occur naturally. Pilgrim Area Collaborative therapists review the student's schedule and discuss with the teacher when and where to offer assistance. Consultation is also provided to the classroom staff regarding the integration of therapy into educational activities.

Related service personnel conduct as many assessments as possible in the natural environments frequented by the learner. Educational priorities of the whole child are determined and in many cases one integrated assessment report is produced. The TEAM then writes shared educational goals and objectives based on the vision and educational priorities for the student. Once the goals have been established, the TEAM determines what input is required from each therapist to assist the student in attaining these goals. Thus the focus is on achieving a common set of goals that all TEAM members have input into and responsibility for. Goals and priorities belong to the student and are not owned by individual team members.

On the service delivery grid related service times are often expressed in total minutes per week of direct service (Section B or C) or consultation (Section A). Related services disciplines are not always listed as Goals but may be listed as Personnel. Language similar to what is written below may be written into Additional Information to clarify the Integrated Related Service Approach:

This student's program employs and integrated related services approach. Therapies (i.e. speech/language, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling) are delivered in context to the educational goals, objectives and activities established by the student's education TEAM. Each therapist uses his/her expertise to provide direct, indirect and consultation support as s/he and the classroom teacher determine best meets the student's goals. This approach ensures that the expertise of the related services personnel is being carried over during the student's entire educational program. Though individual disciplines may be listed with their corresponding times and frequencies, the integrated related services approach provides the TEAM with the flexibility to adjust the delivery model to ensure the greatest opportunity for the student to generalize his/her skill across familiar and unfamiliar people, places and things. (Ed Carter, The Education Cooperative 2003)