Norwayne Local Schools contracts with EJ Therapy for Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT), and Audiology. Needs of any of these related services are always discussed within the IEP team setting and based upon student need. These needs are always revisited, discussed, and agreed upon at the annual IEP review meeting. Services could be direct in nature where students are pulled from a portion of their day to work on specific goals in a smaller less distracting setting, direct in nature where the therapist are going into the classroom setting to work on individual goals, or consultative where the therapist works/communicates with the teachers different strategies to work on in the classroom.
Supervising PT = Courtney Nieschwitz
She evaluates and treats students using her expertise in movement and function and promotes motor development as well as the student’s safe and efficient access and participation in educational routines and activities. She works closely with physical therapy assistants, school personnel, parents, and students to coordinate the delivery of physical therapy services. Courtney is pleased to be working as a part of the multidisciplinary team in Norwayne Local Schools. She can be reached at courtney.n@ejtherapy.com
Supervising OT = Megan Pollock OTR/L
Treating OT = Cindy Cline COTA/L
Occupational therapists in Norwayne schools assist children with diagnosed disabilities and children who are having specific difficulty in a school setting. These areas may include paying attention in class, processing classroom information when overwhelmed with sensory aspects of the setting, and more concrete skills like pencil grasp, handwriting, keyboarding. OT is also able to help with specific self care needs such as shoe tying, buttoning, zipping and opening containers. The goal is always developing functional independence in the school, so the child can access learning and the environment.
After an evaluation, services may be offered to children who qualify for special education services, in a one on one setting, within the classroom, pull-out, small group setting, or with a consult model, providing strategies to use in the classroom.
Norwayne contracts for Occupational Therapy services through EJ Therapy Services where we have therapists who specialize in many aspects of therapy to children. I am Megan Pollock, and I received my masters of Occupational Therapy from Cleveland State University. My fieldwork rotation included a placement in the school system, and I have been with EJ Therapy Services for a year. I have taken a course in sensory strategies to assist children in sensory integration.
Cindy Cline is a 1997 graduate of Stark State University where she received her Associate of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. She has spent the past 20 years working for EJ Therapy in the school setting. She has been with the Norwayne School district for 8 years. She enjoys working directly with the students and staff to help each student gain independence and success in their educational environment with all of their fine motor, sensory and self care skills.
Audiologist = Christine Bricker, MA, CCC-A
Educational audiology is a critical subspecialty in the field of audiology. The role of an educational audiologist is different in different settings but basically, the educational audiologist is responsible for managing audiological issues for children in schools.
The educational audiologist should be available to monitor audiological evaluations for children with auditory issues, communicate concerns to the clinical audiologist from outside the district. She should help school staff understand the effects of hearing loss on academics and assist them in managing hearing loss in the classroom. Responsibilities will include managing classroom acoustics to eliminate background noise, teaching staff how to use FM’s appropriately, working on classroom accommodations for hearing loss including making sure only one person speaks at a time, extended test time etc.
Kids with hearing loss need an advocate in the schools. And that advocate needs to be someone who really has information about hearing, it’s affect on learning and literacy, and can make recommendations about what needs to be modified.