Occupational Therapy
The purpose of School-Based Occupational Therapists is to help students succeed in performing all the tasks necessary for participation and learning at school. Schools provide occupational therapy when a child with a disability requires this related service to assist the child to benefit from special education. The decision of whether a child with a disability qualifies for school occupational therapy is made by a team. This team determines whether the child has a disability, has a need for special education, and requires related services such as occupational therapy. Occupational Therapists use purposeful activity to facilitate a child's active participation in self-maintenance; academic and vocational pursuits and play or leisure activities that occur in school environments. Using direct and indirect services, as well as assistive technology and environmental modifications, school occupational therapists collaborate with parents, teachers, and other educational staff to help implement a child's special education program.
Physical Therapy
School-Based Physical Therapists are experts in movement and facilitate a student's physical access and engagement in their school day. Schools provide physical therapy when a child with a disability requires this related service to assist the child to benefit from special education. School physical therapy focuses on a child's ability to move as independently as possible in the school environment. The school Physical Therapist evaluates the child's ability to move throughout the school and to participate in classroom activities. The decision of whether a child with a disability qualifies for school physical therapy is made by a team. This team determines whether the child has a disability, needs special education, and requires related services such as physical therapy. Physical therapy interventions are designed to enable the student to travel throughout the school environment; participate in classroom activities; maintain and change positions in the classroom; as well as manage stairs, restrooms, and the cafeteria safely.
School-Based Occupational and Physical Therapy
Children with special needs and their families have access to pediatric occupational and physical therapy through both schools and community / clinic-based programs. Collaboration between school and community therapists is essential to coordinate a child’s therapy and prevent duplication of services which may result in denial of payment of community-based therapy. Understanding the framework in which these two provider groups will help families, physicians, and third-party payors to better access and coordinate services for children. Children and families need different support services at different times.
School-based therapy is provided to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education. The goal of community / clinic-based services is to optimize the child’s functional performance concerning needs in the home and community settings.