Understanding what the physical and occupational therapists do
Dole (2004) reports receiving puzzled
looks from parents and education professionals when she states that she works
in public schools as a physical therapist. If educators do not understand the
roles of related service providers, collaboration with those professionals may
be more difficult. Below is a list of the tasks often performed by and
responsibilities of physical and occupational therapists who work in public school
settings, including ways they may collaborate with school personnel. As a
general or special educator, you will find these professionals are excellent
resources for information and support as you work with students who have
physical or health-related needs.
Physical therapists (PTs) work with
students who need to improve their gross motor skills by:
- Assessing
student proficiency in using their gross motor skills, which includes walking,
gait, running, sitting, lifting with their arms, and other tasks requiring
large muscles.
- Providing
assessment information to the IEP team regarding the student’s abilities and
implications for educational progress.
- Explaining how
classroom settings can be adapted to accommodate students with disabilities
that affect their gross motor skills.
- Explaining how
to adapt class activities, including physical education, so that the student
can participate as fully as possible.
- Training school
personnel about ways to assist the student with personal hygiene activities, if
needed.
- Providing
information about assistive devices that would help and support student
performance.
- Helping school
personnel develop a safe evacuation plan in case of a fire or other emergency.
- Interpreting
medical information from physicians.
- Providing
direct training to students in large muscle movement and control, such as how
to compensate for and change inefficient motor patterns.
- Determining and
monitoring student needs for positioning in wheelchairs, classroom furniture,
standing, and on the floor.
- Providing
training to teachers and paraeducators who work with these students so that
they can support and extend therapy offered by the PT.
- Developing home
programs that family members can implement to support therapies given at
school.
Occupational therapists (OTs) work with
students who need to improve their fine motor skills by:
- Assessing
student proficiency in using their fine motor skills, which includes use of
hands, arms, and fingers, including grasping, feeding, dressing, and
manipulating objects.
- Providing
assessment information to the IEP team regarding the student’s abilities and
implications for educational progress.
- Interpreting
medical information from physicians.
- Providing
direct training to students in fine muscle movement and control, such as how to
use special devises to grip and use a pencil or complete eating and dressing
tasks more independently.
- Explaining how
to adapt class activities, including physical education, so that the student
can participate as fully as possible.
- Training school
personnel about ways to assist the student with activities of daily living,
such as eating, dressing for PE and recess, and using the toilet, if needed.
- Providing
information about assistive devices that would help and support student performance.
- Providing
training to teachers and paraeducators who work with these students so that
they can support and extend therapy offered by the OT.
- Developing home
programs that family members can implement to support therapies given at
school.
For more information about becoming a PT
or OT, visit these websites:
Sources:
Dole, R. (2004). Collaborating successfully with your school’s physical
therapist. TEACHING Exceptional Children, 36(5), 28-35.
Friend, M. & Bursuck, W. (2002).
Including students with special needs: A practical guide for classroom
teachers. (3rd Ed.) Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Peterson, J. M. & Hittie, M. M.
(2003). Inclusive teaching: Creating effective schools for all learners. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Smith, D. D. (2004). Introduction to special
education: Teaching in an age of opportunity. (5th Ed.) Boston: Allyn &
Bacon.
