What is the Related Services Training Program?

Related services (physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology, assistive technology, etc.) are required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in order to meet the educational needs of students with disabilities. A severe shortage of related service personnel in the Federated States of Micronesia, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands has resulted in inadequate and/or inconsistent supports for students with disabilities and their families and teachers in related services.

In order to increase local capacity, the Related Services Assistant (RSA) Training Program began in January, 2000, at the College of Micronesia , Federated States of Micronesia. The program moved to American Samoa in 2001, and to the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands in 2002. In CNMI, the name RSA was changed to RST to respect administrative rules regarding supervision of support personnel. Another cohort completed their RSA certificates in CNMI in 2004, a cohort in Palau in 2005, and the 2006 cohort was in Pohnpei. The RSA program is expected to stay in Pohnpei at least through 2007.

RSA students complete three semesters of training using on-site classes, televideo classes, and supervised practicum experiences in order to receive a certificate. The role of the RSA differs in different jurisdictions. In the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), RSAs work within the special education systems providing services for children. In American Samoa, RSAs work in special education, public health, early intervention, and general education. In CNMI, RST’s are all teacher’s aides, and work in classroom settings. RSAs in Palau, RMI and FSM are all special education teachers.

RSA students are taught to support students with disabilities to participate in and benefit from educational programs. With knowledge and skills to support students with disabilities, the RSA works as a team member with family members, teachers, and therapists to develop and implement programs that focus on functional skills that contribute to the students’ achievement of educational goals and objectives. RSAs assist to develop adaptations and supports for students in nutrition, motor (sitting, walking), fine motor (writing, using hands), communication (speaking, using pictures and sign language, understanding), social (interacting with others), and adaptive skills such as eating and dressing. They also assist in the development of IFSPs and IEP documents.

Currently about 40 RSAs in FSM have completed the certification program. Seventeen RSAs completed the program in American Samoa, Forty-one RSAs are certified in CNMI, and five in RMI. Twenty-one RSAs are certified in Palau. Twenty-three students completed their RSA certificate at the College of Micronesia in Pohnpei in 2006, seven from RMI and 16 from FSM. This makes a total of 150 certified RSAs in the Pacific at the end of 2006. We are currently recruiting for the 2007 cohort of the RSA program that will be in Pohnpei.

The RSA training project was supported by the U.S. D.O.E., Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation, grant #H325A990041, from 1999-2002. A new grant entitled PREP (Pacific Related Services and Educational Paraprofessional Training Project- #H325A030108) was funded from 2003 - 2008 by the Office of Special Education Programs of the U.S. DOE. It includes training for RSAs in CNMI, Palau, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and the Marshall Islands from 2003 - 2008.