AOTA

Authors:

Gloria Frolek Clark, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, SCSS, FAOTA

Joyce E. Rioux, EdD, OTR/L, SCSS

Earn: .1 AOTA CEU (1.25 NBCOT PDU; 1 contact hour)

Overview:

This chapter describes the role of the occupational therapist in conducting evaluations of a student’s academic, behavior, and functional performance using multiple methods: record review, interview, observation, and administration of tools. Analysis and interpretation of these data provides information to the referring team (parents included) about the environment, instruction, curriculum, and student’s performance in the context of the student’s education.

Learning Objectives:

1.      Differentiate between screening, evaluation and assessment.

2.      Discuss various approaches to gathering meaningful information.

3.      Understand Federal guidelines regarding student eligibility for special education and related services.

4.      List the steps involved in developing an IEP.

5.      Describe the OT referral process and best practices for OT evaluations in school settings

Key Terms and Concepts:

·         Analysis of occupational performance

·         Assessment

·         Child Find

·         Evaluation

·         Multi-tiered systems of support

·         Occupational profile

·         Screening

·         Strengths-based approach

·         Student-centered approach

·         Synthesis

·         Top-down approach