Occupational & Physical Therapy

Occupational Therapy (OT) supports students’ abilities to access and progress in the school curriculum by enhancing their engagement and participation in daily occupations, such as academics, play and leisure, social participation, self-care skills (or activities of daily living), and transition/prevocational skills. Occupational therapists provide services based on student needs to participate in their education in the areas of:

• fine motor skills
• visual perceptual skills
• motor coordination
• functional or accommodated written communication
• sensory processing skills
• executive function skills
• functional skills
• motor planning skills

What makes school-based occupational therapy services unique is the focus on utilizing meaningful activities (occupations) to help children and youth participate in what they need and/or want to do in order to promote physical and mental health and well-being. In treatment, occupational therapy practitioners address the physical, cognitive, psychosocial and sensory components of performance. Occupational therapy’s expertise includes activity and environmental analysis and modification with the goal of reducing barriers to functional participation.

Physical Therapy (PT) promotes participation access, and learning in the educational environment. Physical therapy supports student independence to participate with their peers in their natural learning environment. School-based PT supports students’ abilities to access and progress in the school curriculum by enhancing their engagement, participation in daily activities, and independence building in daily activities. These activities include, but are not limited to:

• Safely sitting, standing, walking or moving
• Mobility in the classroom and school/campus (include cafeteria, playground, bathroom, and school bus)
• Participating with their peers, in the same or comparable activities with modifications or accomodations as needed in the school day.
• Safely with transfers.

Physical Therapy supports the educational goals and process of preparing students for post-graduation life which can include further education, employment, independent living, and to be members of their communities. 

OT and PT services in the school setting aim to address a student's ability to access and participate in their educational curriculum.

School-based occupational therapy and physical therapy practitioners have a unique role in helping to improve foundational skills make recommendations modify the learning environment and promote daily practice in their natural learning environment to help students be successful.

Often times, OT and PT services are implemented through students' individualized education program to support progress towards their specific annual goals.

Parents/guardians may contact their child's teacher, case carrier, assistant principal, principal, school or districts office if there are concerns regarding their child's foundational skills as it relates to their education. If you would like to request a referral for an OT or PT assessment, please notify your child's school or district office. They can assist you in initiating the referral process. A written request for an OT or PT assessment can also be given to your child's school or district office staff member.

Please refer to the SELPA Referral Procedures. 

Educationally necessary therapy is provided in the school to help the child access educational services and benefit from their educational program. In the school, educational goals hold a primary position, while occupational therapy goals are undertaken to support the educational goals. The school therapist delivers a wide range of services. These services cover individual therapy, as well as therapy within small groups, and consultation with school staff, and with the child’s family. Thus, the school therapist is expected to share his/her knowledge and skills with others by demonstrating and monitoring activities that are educationally appropriate.

Medically necessary therapy is usually undertaken as an adjunct to medical treatment for acute and chronic conditions to ameliorate an underlying disability. The goal of medically necessary therapy is to improve global functioning through the use of a variety of modalities. Medically necessary therapy conducted in the school is not the same as therapy conducted in the clinic. Therapy differs in these two settings in terms of its intent, the role of the therapist, and the type of support available to the therapist. The significant ways in which clinical therapy and school therapy differ from one another are summarized below.