What is Occupational therapy?
A school based Occupational Therapist provides services to children who qualify for a 504 Accommodation plan (click on the link for further information regarding 504 plans http://www.walthampublicschools.org/504.cfm) or an IEP - Individualized Education Plan (click on the link for further information regarding IEPs http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/iep/). The OT’s role in a school system is defined by state and federal laws (OT as part of a related service as defined by federal and state law).
The OT’s role in a school system is to assist students to attain functional motor (i.e. opening snack/lunch containers & coat fasteners), perceptual (i.e. puzzle assembly), and sensory skills (i.e. take deep breaths/move and sit disco seat cushion) necessary to access their school curriculum. Examples include acquiring functional use of classroom tools such as pencils, crayons, and scissors. The OT’s role also includes ongoing consultation with staff, teachers, and family members/caregivers to ensure proper carry over of compensatory strategies and modifications provided for each child in order to access their school curriculum. Some compensatory strategies used might be the use of soft music and modifying written work assignments by incorporating special lined paper.
The goal of the school-based OT is not to remediate areas of weakness students may have, but to assist and provide strategies that will allow the student to access the school curriculum.
“In the school system, the role of the OT is to facilitate educationally relevant adaptations and accommodations to improve children’s performance at school…” Lucy Jane Miller, Author of Sensational Kids. Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).
Groll, Claire, OTR/L. “School-Based OT-Comparing Apples to Oranges”. October, 2007
In Waltham, the School based Therapists work to foster their students’ ability to access the curriculum, while striving to decrease the need for services as the students become more independent. Through consultation with teachers, parents and staff, the therapists provide recommendations for strategies that may include: the use of modifications or accommodations to the environment and appropriate equipment or tools that aid or assist the students in becoming independent at accessing the curriculum. The therapists provide education to the students and staff to promote independence and monitor the effectiveness of all supports. This approach to service delivery promotes inclusion in the classroom to allow students to learn with their peers.
The OT’s role in a school system is to assist students to attain functional motor (i.e. opening snack/lunch containers & coat fasteners), perceptual (i.e. puzzle assembly), and sensory skills (i.e. take deep breaths/move and sit disco seat cushion) necessary to access their school curriculum. Examples include acquiring functional use of classroom tools such as pencils, crayons, and scissors. The OT’s role also includes ongoing consultation with staff, teachers, and family members/caregivers to ensure proper carry over of compensatory strategies and modifications provided for each child in order to access their school curriculum. Some compensatory strategies used might be the use of soft music and modifying written work assignments by incorporating special lined paper.
The goal of the school-based OT is not to remediate areas of weakness students may have, but to assist and provide strategies that will allow the student to access the school curriculum.
“In the school system, the role of the OT is to facilitate educationally relevant adaptations and accommodations to improve children’s performance at school…” Lucy Jane Miller, Author of Sensational Kids. Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).
Groll, Claire, OTR/L. “School-Based OT-Comparing Apples to Oranges”. October, 2007
- Karen Koffink, MA. OTR/L. Sensory Certified, Stanley Elementary School
- Alina Nalbandian, OTR/L, MEd, Fitzgerald Elementary School, Kennedy Middle School, McDevitt Middle School, Waltham High School
- Tracy Harding OTR/L, MHA Northeast Elementary School
- Kerry Peterson, MA. OTR/L. Plympton Elementary School & Stanley Elementary School
- Shari Cousineau, MS, OTR/L. Whittemore Elementary School & MacArthur Elementary School
In Waltham, the School based Therapists work to foster their students’ ability to access the curriculum, while striving to decrease the need for services as the students become more independent. Through consultation with teachers, parents and staff, the therapists provide recommendations for strategies that may include: the use of modifications or accommodations to the environment and appropriate equipment or tools that aid or assist the students in becoming independent at accessing the curriculum. The therapists provide education to the students and staff to promote independence and monitor the effectiveness of all supports. This approach to service delivery promotes inclusion in the classroom to allow students to learn with their peers.