What is school-based Occupational Therapy?
In the school setting, Occupational Therapy is a “related service” to special education under Part B of the Individuals with Education Act (IDEA). Related services are provided when they are needed to assist Special Education students in benefiting from their program. School-based therapists look at underlying skills and issues related to hand function, oral motor function, visual motor and perceptual skills, sensory awareness/processing, self-care and pre-vocational tasks in the educational setting. This differs from the medical model of therapy services, which focuses on medical needs. While medical conditions or a disability may be present, school-based therapy services are not required unless the disability impacts the student’s ability to benefit from the special education program. These areas can be addressed through a variety of intervention strategies, which may include direct therapy with the child, consultation with the teacher, modification of the environment, provision of a
