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Occupational & Physical Therapists

1. The student has a documented disability;
2. There is an adverse educational impact on the student's ability to progress in the general education curriculum;
3. The student is in need of specially designed instruction by an occupational and/or physical therapists.

The Role of Occupational Therapists (OTs)

• Assist students to learn sensory strategies and self-regulation.
• Assist students to learn sensory strategies.
• Choose and adjust adaptive equipment.
• Assist students to increase written work production.
• Choose and teach exercises to increase handwriting hand strength.
• Choose and teach exercises to increase bilateral integration.
• Choose and teach exercises to increase visual motor control.
• Design activities to promote self-help skills.
• Design activities to promote social competence.
• Choose and teach activities to promote visual perception.
• Work with students and staff to increase positive behaviors.
• Strategies to implement assistive technology.

The Role of Physical Therapists (PTs)

• Design and implement physical therapy interventions.
• Gross motor services to support the student’s
• individualized education program.
• Adaptive equipment, orthotics, and positioning.
• Strategies to facilitate the student’s full participation in school-related activities.
• Reduce barriers that limit student participation within the school environment.

School Psychologists

School psychologists help children and youth succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. They collaborate with educators, parents and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments for all students that strengthen connections between home and school.

School psychologists are highly trained in both psychology and education. They must complete a minimum of a post-Masters degree program that includes a year-long internship and emphasizes preparation in mental health, child development, school organization, learning styles and processes, behavior, motivation, and effective teaching.

School psychologists must be certified and/or licensed by the state in which they work. They also may be nationally certified by the National School Psychology Certification Board (NSPCB) or by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).

The Role of School Psychologists

• Identify and address learning problems.
• Evaluate for special education eligibility, provide counseling and collaboration.
• Support social and emotional needs.
• Address behavioral problems.
• Design progress monitoring systems.
• Collect and analyze data.
• Increase academic achievement by helping others to understand learning issues.
• Train staff on data collection models, understanding disabilities, and behavioral interventions within the school environment.

Speech & Language Pathologists

Students may be considered to have a communication disorder if there is a documented speech or language impairment such as stuttering, voice disorder, language impairment, or impaired articulation which adversely affects a students educational performance and requires specially designed instruction.

The role of Speech & Language Pathologists (SLPs)

• Evaluate and address speech and language issues impacting student learning.
• Provide therapy for:
  • Expressive language issues
  • Receptive language issues
  • Phonological issues
  • Articulation issues
  • Pragmatic language issues
  • Voice issues and speech fluency issues
• Design consultative services.
• Strategies to implement assistive technology

For more information, contact Paul Rogers - (253) 373-7156