Physical Therapy at Pelham Elementary School
School-based physical therapy helps students with disabilities overcome physical challenges that may affect their ability to participate in school. Physical therapists work within the school environment, often as part of a special education team, to ensure students have access to their education. This includes developing and implementing therapy plans to improve motor skills, mobility, and other physical abilities needed for school activities. School-based PT is delivered in the student’s natural school environments, such as classrooms, hallways, gymnasiums, cafeterias, and playgrounds. This helps integrate physical goals into the student’s daily school activities.
Purpose:
The primary goal of school-based physical therapy is to enable students with disabilities to participate fully in their educational environment. This can involve interventions to improve skills like gross motor skills, including balance, coordination, and mobility.
Role in the IEP:
School-based physical therapists often work with the special education team to develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students. They contribute to the IEP by assessing the student's needs, developing goals, and implementing appropriate interventions. School-aged students with a disability may be eligible for school-based physical therapy and other relevant related services under IDEA if their gross motor deficits impact their access to school environments. For example, if a child utilizes a wheelchair, a physical therapist would ensure that the student can move around their classroom appropriately, access unified arts classrooms and support their access to an adapted table in the cafeteria to sit with their peers.
Interventions:
Physical therapists may work with students on activities like:
- Improving walking, balance, and coordination
- Assisting with classroom seating and positioning
- Supporting their participation in physical education class.
- Helping students safely navigate hallways, stairs, and playgrounds
- Training staff on how to assist students with mobility challenges
- Supporting the use of adaptive equipment (e.g., walkers, standers, or wheelchairs)
Collaboration:
Student's IEP teams work together to support each student successfully accessing the curriculum and school environments. If a child requires the support of a physical therapist, the PT would collaborate with educators, parents, and other professionals to ensure the student's needs are being met during the school day.
How is school-based PT different from medical PT?
Unlike clinical or outpatient PT, which may focus on rehabilitation and long-term physical development, school-based PT is specifically designed to support a student’s educational goals. It addresses only those physical challenges that directly impact the student’s ability to access environments during the school day.