Occupational Therapy

School Based OT focuses on students’ fine motor, functional, self help skills (such as bathrooming, self feeding, dressing), sensory processing abilities, positioning and assistive technology needs for written expression, organization, self care and sensory processing. Occupational Therapists also assist in adaptations or the modification of educational tasks, environments or routines during the school or child’s day.

Service Determination

Occupational therapy is a related service, to receive OT in the schools, students must first qualify for special education and then secondly demonstrate needs that impact their ability to function in their educational environment as determined by the program OT with input from the educational team. For a specific time or episode of need, the occupational therapist will use a continuum of service (direct, indirect or both) to support student needs.

Scope of Practice

Occupational Therapy (OT) as an educational support service can be quite different from an OT in a medical setting. School based therapists focus on assisting students to acquire the functional abilities necessary to access educational materials and adapt to their educational environment. The focus is to build skills, adapt tasks, expectations and environments in order to facilitate the student’s success within their educational setting. Occupational therapist will train/support other providers and staff to carry out procedures or techniques to improve student performance.