What to Do When Your Child's School Therapist Misses IEP Sessions
You're scrolling through the service log at 10 PM, cross-referencing dates with your own calendar. Your stomach drops. March 12th—"Speech therapy session completed, 30 minutes." But March 12th was the field trip. Your daughter was on a bus to the science museum. You have the permission slip. You have the photos.
Your hands are shaking as you keep scrolling. March 19th—another session logged. That was the day she came home crying because "the speech lady never came." You believed the school when they said it was a miscommunication. You felt guilty for doubting them.
Now you're staring at a document that says your child received services she never got—and someone signed their name to it.
If this scene feels familiar—if you're sitting with that sick feeling of realizing the system you trusted has been failing your child in ways you can't even fully measure yet—keep reading. What you're feeling is valid. And what happens next matters.
Understanding What's Happening
Let me start by acknowledging what you might be feeling right now: betrayal, anger, worry, and exhaustion all mixed together. When you discover that promised services haven't been delivered—or worse, that records might not reflect reality—it shakes the foundation of trust you need to work collaboratively with your child's school team.
Here's what's important to remember: If you've caught this, you're doing exactly what your child needs. Paying attention to service delivery, asking questions, and requesting documentation isn't being difficult—it's being the advocate your child deserves. Many families supplement with private therapy precisely because they understand the importance of having multiple support systems in place.
Schools are legally obligated to provide the services outlined in an IEP. When they don't, they owe compensatory services to make up for what was missed. This isn't about blame—it's about ensuring your child receives what they're entitled to under federal law.
Strategies That Often Help
Document everything systematically. Keep a record of every missed session you're aware of, the dates you received documentation, when entries were actually created (metadata can be revealing), and any communication you've had with the school. Keep it factual and organized—emotion is valid, but documentation should be clinical.
Request a formal IEP meeting in writing. Cite your specific concerns about service delivery and explicitly ask for compensatory services for missed sessions. Written requests create a paper trail and trigger legal timelines that schools must follow.
Connect with advocacy resources. Your state's Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) can provide guidance on your specific state's procedures. Special education advocates often offer free or sliding-scale consultations and can help you navigate the legal landscape. You don't have to figure this out alone.
Consider requesting an independent review of service logs. If you suspect documentation irregularities, you have the right to question records and request verification of when entries were created versus when services allegedly occurred.
Know your timeline. Schools typically have specific windows to respond to requests and schedule meetings. Understanding these timelines helps you hold the system accountable.
This situation is infuriating and exhausting, but you have more power than it might feel like in this moment. Your advocacy matters, and the law is on your side.
You're Not Alone
If you're navigating this challenge, you don't have to figure it out alone at 2 AM. AriaStar is here 24/7 at NeuroLink Bridge - no judgment, just support from someone who understands autism family life.
Looking for more support? Explore our free resources or meet AriaStar.