Related Services

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is one of the related services that may be provided as per a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) and must support the necessary educational objectives. School-based occupational therapists assist students with performing the activities required to participate in school and foster meaningful learning. Occupational therapists work collaboratively with the student’s IEP team and participate in evaluation, program development, progress assessment, and monitoring of interventions. School-based occupational therapists look at a variety of areas affected by a child’s disability such as fine-motor, hand function, self-care, sensory processing and awareness, visual and perceptual abilities and pre-vocational activities. An occupational therapist uses specific activities to help students reach their goals and objectives as well as their maximum potential. Intervention strategies may include: direct therapy with the child, consultation with the teacher and/or parent(s), environment modification, and provision of adaptive equipment. Collaborating with school staff to modify both the student’s environment and daily school activities can also be a part of school-based therapy. In addition, school-based occupational therapists help train school staff to incorporate interventions and practice of motor skills as part of the routine classroom instructional activities.

Physical Therapy

School based physical therapy services assist a student with a disability to benefit from their school experience by helping the student to access and participate in the educational environment: the school building, classroom, playground, cafeteria, and school bus. Additionally, physical therapy services may be required for students to access off campus field trips and other school-community activities. The physical therapist develops interventions in these natural educational environments to achieve functional, age appropriate skills specified as goals and objectives by the IEP team members.

Qualifying for special education and related services is the first step toward receiving PT at school. If the student’s IEP team determines that a physical therapy evaluation is needed, an evaluation is performed by a certified school–based physical therapist. The evaluation is used to determine if services are required and the areas in need of intervention. The therapist will meet with the IEP team to develop goals and objectives in the areas of mobility, sensory-motor regulation, environmental access and motor skills attainment. Physical therapy recommendations are based on the unique and individual needs of each student.

The physical therapist aims to assist a student to achieve his or her goals within the least restrictive school environment. A physical therapist may offer consultation services to the student’s parents and teachers in order to increase independent functioning when direct services are not required. Direct physical therapy services are provided within the student’s regular school day. Most direct services are provided to students in the elementary schools because early intervention is critically important. Each year, the student’s physical therapy goals and objectives are assessed and revised based on the changing needs of the student.

Speech and Language Specialists

School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists, state certified as “Speech Language Specialists,” are professionally trained to improve the communication abilities of students who have complex communication disorders, covering a wide range of disabilities and diverse educational needs, including augmentative technology. They serve many different roles in the public school system. Primarily, they are Direct Service Providers, either in or out of the classroom, for students with language, articulation, voice and fluency disorders, as defined by the New Jersey Administrative Code for Special Education (N.J.A.C. 6A:14). Speech Language Specialists also act as consultants to classroom teachers, paraprofessionals and parents in order to facilitate generalization and carryover of targeted skills. They evaluate students with suspected speech and/or language disabilities, providing written reports which include input from the teacher regarding the educational impact of the suspected disability in the classroom. They also serve as Child Study Team Members for all classified students receiving speech/language services and when a school age child is referred for a suspected language impairment, including all initial planning meetings for preschool students. Speech Language Specialists act as case managers for all students referred for possible voice, articulation or fluency disorders and coordinate the development, monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of the IEP. If a student requires therapeutic intervention, the decision on the level of service frequency, group size, location and duration) is made by the Speech Language Specialist in conjunction with the IEP team. Mandatory continuing education credits are required in order for the Speech Language Pathologist to keep current with best practices in assessment and intervention.