AEE — Specialized Educational Support
A complementary educational service that organizes pedagogical and accessibility resources to reduce barriers and support autonomy, participation and learning. It does not replace the regular classroom.
IEP, specialized educational support and school support professionals: what families and schools need to understand
A guide to distinguish educational supports that often generates questions and to organize a more objective conversation with the school.
Case study and PAEE
Current federal regulation provides for a collaborative case study to identify strengths, support needs and barriers. Its findings inform the Specialized Educational Support Plan (PAEE).
PEI — Individualized Education Plan
The Individualized Education Plan is provided as a curriculum-accessibility plan. When indicated, it should include curricular, teaching and assessment accessibility measures, as well as monitoring and feedback to families.
School support professional
Need should be assessed in the educational context. When indicated, the professional works in alignment with PAEE and PEI and under pedagogical guidance, supporting participation, mobility, hygiene/feeding when needed, communication, social interaction and accessibility resources.
What to ask in a school meeting
- Which barriers are limiting participation and learning?
- Which strategies and resources have already been tried and with what results?
- Is there a case study, PAEE or PEI? How do the student and family participate?
- How will goals be monitored and feedback documented?
- Has the need for a school support professional been assessed? Based on which functional and educational needs?
- Which professionals need training or guidance to carry out the plan?
What about a therapeutic companion (AT)?
A therapeutic companion (AT), school support professional, AEE teacher and classroom teacher have different roles. This site does not present AT as a substitute for the teacher or as an automatic right for every autistic student. When external professionals participate in school routines, responsibilities, authorization, goals, supervision and alignment with the educational plan need to be clearly defined.
Inep update: a medical report is not a condition for enrollment or AEE
In official guidance updated on July 20, 2026, Inep states that requiring a medical report as a condition for enrollment, access to AEE or reporting the student in the School Census is prohibited. Educational documentation may use pedagogical tools such as the Case Study or AEE Plan under current federal rules. The case study is pedagogical and collaborative, not diagnostic.
Inep also states that the PEI should document curricular, teaching and assessment accessibility measures, strategies to monitor development and periodic feedback to the family, with annual review.
View official Inep guidanceInep update: AEE must still be offered even without a resource room
In guidance updated on August 31, 2026, Inep explains that AEE preferably takes place in a Multifunctional Resource Room, but may be provided in another properly equipped space within the school or education system. The absence of that room cannot prevent the service from being offered.
In practice: the answer “we do not have a resource room” does not end the education system’s responsibility. Families can ask in writing how and where AEE will be organized in a properly equipped space in the school or education system.
View official Inep guidanceOfficial sources for further reading
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How to build an effective PEI
Introduction to building individualized objectives and monitoring the educational plan.
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