Determining the Need

POINTS TO CONSIDER

Student:

• • Does your student have low or high muscle tone?

  • Does the student tend to be a sensory seeker or sensory avoider?

  • Does the student gravitate towards a particular seat, rug, or cushion in the environment?

Environment:

• • Are there universal supports available in the environment (program, classroom, building, district) that can first be trialed with the student to determine the need?

  • Consult with your school occupational therapist or physical therapist for further guidance.

Task:

• • What is the student currently expected to complete in the classroom while seated that they can not currently accomplish?

  • What activities are the student more or less engaged with during the day?

Tool:

• • Preliminary features to consider when selecting tools: comfort, movement in place, compression, stability, size of student and tool, and arrangement of environment.

  • What types of training might be required for this student or team members when determining a tool?

  • Trial new tools from the AT Lending Library, based on the identification of priority tasks and activities.

Visit the AT DECISION-MAKING SUPPORTS page for additional resources