Occupational and Physical Therapy (OT/PT)
Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy are related services provided for students under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) by physical therapists (PT), occupational therapists (OT) and occupational therapist assistants (COTA). Part B of IDEIA mandates the education of children, 3-21 years old, who have a disability that interferes with their educational performance and their ability to benefit from their educational program. School districts provide physical and occupational therapy services, in the least restrictive environment, for children who need special assistance in order to benefit from their education program.
The services these professionals provide are designed to enhance a child’s educational goals by developing background skills so that the child can participate more fully in their school curriculum and activities. Physical and occupational therapy are related services to special education and are provided only if the child needs therapy to function in the educational setting as determined by the IEP team. Therefore, direct therapy may be provided individually or in small groups by a therapist or therapist assistant. Interventions could include indirect consultation with the educational staff to modify the child’s environment and daily school activities.
PT’s, OT’s and COTA’s work collaboratively with the educational team and participate in screening, evaluation, program planning and intervention to identify a student’s annual goals and determine the services, supports, modifications and accommodations that are required for the student to achieve these goals.
In Cincinnati Public Schools, therapy services include conducting evaluations as part of the multi-factored evaluation (MFE), contributing to the development of the IEP, providing interventions, working directly with students to achieve IEP goals, consulting with the educational team, and educating IEP team members and classroom staff in regards to specific accommodations and modifications that are needed for an individual student to achieve their academic potential. In general, therapists work on bilateral coordination skills, strengthening, postural control, positioning/handling techniques, use of adaptive equipment and devices, provide adaptive positioning to maintain the student in the best possible position for learning activities, provide strategies to allow the student to engage successfully in all activities and recommend/ train the educational staff in the use of assistive devices and other technology for students who require alternative means to accomplish education-related tasks.
Physical therapists primarily address mobility issues around the school environment. These may include mobility within the classroom, class-to-class mobility, stairs, bus skills, transfers, assistive devices, wheelchairs and seating.
Occupational therapists support students in meeting the academic standards as well as nonacademic outcomes. These may include upper body strengthening/stretching, oral motor skills social skills, pre-vocational / vocational skills, independence in the performance of daily self-care tasks such as feeding, dressing, toileting and grooming, fine motor performance related to classroom activities and visual-motor-perception skills as related to written communication skills. OT’s may also provide consultative services to the IEP team regarding strategies for sensory processing, behavior/attention and organization skills as necessary for learning.
FORMS & DATA SHEETS
OT-English - Introductory letter to parents for OT in English
PT -English - Introductory letter for parents for PT in English
OT-Spanish with translation - Introductory letter for parents for OT in Spanish with translation
PT - Spanish with translation - Introductory letter for parents for PT in Spanish with translation
Weekly Schedule Template - Monday-Friday schedule template
OT Elementary Eval Sheet - Outline for content of OT eval
PT Eval Sheet - Outline for content of PT eval
PT Script Form - Basic Prescription form for PT
PT Script-Direct Access - Prescription form for Direct Access with request for Physician signature
Fax for script - Fax to send with scripts to MD
Intro letter to teachers - Introduction of therapist to teachers