Description of Services
Students experiencing difficulty mastering short-term IEP objectives are candidates for Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy services when support is required in order for the student to benefit from the special education program.
School-based Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy
- Under part B of IDEA, PT and OT are related services for eligible students, who, because of their disabilities, need special education and related services. Related services are support services that help the student to benefit from special education.
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990-Students who are not eligible for IDEA might be eligible for school-based OT and/or PT services as a reasonable accommodation to help students access and participate in educational activities.
- School-based PT and OT services address functional skills within the educational setting and are performed with educational staff.
Examples of educational need:
- Maintaining functional body positions
- Moving around school campus within a time constraint
- Completing written assignments
- Tolerating physical contact
- Learning new motor skills within a reasonable time frame
- Transitioning to new activities
- Sensory processing/ sensory awareness
- Psychosocial adaptation
- Manipulating a variety of age appropriate materials
- Managing self care activities
- Utilizing adaptive equipment and assistive technology as compensatory strategies
- Functional mobility