Special Needs Support can include shadowing in a classroom or at vocational training, support with life skills such as basic finances, shopping, garden, cooking, personal hygiene or social skills. Special Needs support can also include working with families, schools, and the community, and often involves group work.

Special Needs Support is different from Special Education and Learning Support in that sessions are not always conducted by an educator, but sometimes a social worker, a counsellor, or someone with training in special needs support, and the focus is not strictly academic. Special needs support usually includes knowledge, skills or language targets, or a combination of these.