School Based occupational Therapy

Mazyad Alotaibi

School Based Therapy School based therapy is

provided to give children with disabilities and delays improved access to education and to help each child reach their educational potential.

School Based Therapy The role of the Physical Therapist (PT) and

the Occupational Therapist (OT) is to integrate therapeutic strategies and interventions that coordinate with the student’s curriculum, rather than providing related services as a “special subject” during the school day. Therapy services provide support and adaptations to allow function in the school.

Physical Therapists focus on Gross Motor Skills

What are Gross Motor Skills?

Gross Motor Skills are large movements of the body, which relate to mobility

and active play.

Activities that promote the development of gross motor

skills:• Playground

equipment• Endurance activities• Swimming• Kick Ball• Jump Rope, Skipping,

hopping• Playing outside

• Imitating animals• Log Rolling• Riding bicycles• General exercises• Walking a line, curb,

railroad ties

What is the role of the Physical Therapist in providing evaluation and treatment in the school setting?

Physical Therapy The Physical Therapist

addresses motor function that prevents a child from accessing his/her education or achieving a goal that has been set by the school team.

Physical Therapy

Special consideration is given to mobility skills that affect the child’s ability to move within or be evacuated from the school building.

Physical Therapy Balance and posture are

addressed as they relate to the child’s need to interact with teachers, peers and educational materials (e.g. sitting at a desk, standing in a line).

Physical Therapy PT’s help with adaptive

equipment (e.g. wheelchairs, standers, walkers) that the child may need to complete everyday tasks.

Why are Gross Motor Skills important for students?

• Gross Motor skills and mastery of the large muscle groups provide the foundation for movement, coordination and balance.

• Safety, in the classroom, on the playground, and in the gym.

• Gross Motor Skills build the foundation for fine motor skills: If a child has difficulty sitting in a chair, writing and coloring will be more of a challenge.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy focuses on the development of a child’s fine motor skills.

What are Fine Motor Skills?

Fine Motor Skills Fine motor skills are the

manner in which we use our fingers, hands and arms. They include reaching, grasping, manipulating objects and using different tools like crayons and scissors.

Why are Fine Motor Skills Important?

Fine Motor Skills enable people to do many things in daily life…

Activities that require fine motor skills:

• Zipping and Buttoning

• Picking a flower• Writing a note• Cutting with

scissors• Turing pages of a

book

• Brushing Teeth• Opening a door• Shaking

someone’s hands• Using an elevator• Operation of a

remote control

What is the role of the Occupational Therapist in providing evaluation and treatment in the

school setting?

Occupational Therapy

The OT assists the student in areas of self help, fine motor and written communication skills needed to participate in school activities.

Occupational Therapy

The OT may adapt, design and fabricate equipment so the student can better function while at school, whether in the classroom, lunchroom, or restroom.

Collaboration between Educators, Therapists and Families

For the student that experiences challenges in school because of a disability, delay, or injury it is essential for everyone to work together and follow through in the classroom, during the therapy session, and at home to meet the child’s educational goals.

School Based Therapy

• Depending on individual needs, a student may only require services for a specific duration.

• As the student’s ability to participate in the school environment improves and challenges are overcome, the team will determine if service should be less frequent, consultative or discontinued.