OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES


PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

Occupational Therapy addresses a student’s ability to participate in school, work, leisure, self-care activities, and to access their environment in a safe and functional manner. In the educational setting, therapy is provided to students with disabilities when this service is necessary for the student to benefit from their educational program and the school’s curriculum.

Occupational therapists bring expertise in five therapeutic domains to the educational setting:
  • Sensory awareness/processing
  • Neuromuscular functions
  • Motor (gross, fine and oral) skills
  • Perceptual skills
  • Adaptive behaviors
Written Reports are generated and forwarded to the district and/or supervisor of special education, to assist the multi-disciplinary team in determining the need for services. Reports include:
    1. Identification of how specific therapeutic domains contribute to and/or challenge a student’s performance in school.
    2. Assessment and description of student’s performance in specific areas of school, such as the classroom, lunchroom and playground, rather than solely on the basis of formal test results.
    3. Discussion of how intervention will improve the student’s performance in school and activities.

The Primary Goal is to: Provide educationally relevant services that assist each student in compensating for sensory awareness/processing, neuromuscular, motor and perceptual deficits, functional positioning, mobility, accessibility, endurance, strength, activities of daily living, and orientation deficits which prevent access to an appropriate education program and the curriculum.

PROGRAM FEATURES:
  • Clinical Supervision and Management
  • Individual Student Evaluations
  • Program Recommendations for Educationally-Relevant Activities
  • Program Recommendations for Adaptive Physical Education
  • Recommendations for the Adaptation of Classroom Equipment
  • Consultation to Teachers and Staff
  • Inservice Training for Staff
  • Parent Communication
  • Team Planning and Participation in IEP Development
  • Staff Training
For more information about Occupational Therapy:
See the Bucks County Intermediate Unit Occupational Therapy Brochure
Visit the American Occupational Therapy Association: www.aota.org
Visit the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association: www.pota.org

Also, see the link for Frequently Asked Questions at http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/phy_ther.html


Contact your child's school to discuss his/her need for school-based occupational therapy. 


The Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22 is not responsible for content or the links on these pages.
The BCIU does not sponsor or in any way approve of any activities of these organizations.