AOTA

Author:

Ellenmarie Brady, OTD, OTR/L, RN

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

Overview:

This chapter explores the use of group interventions in the natural routine of the school

day to address the LRE mandate of IDEA and to provide curriculum-based support for students. Their use reinforces a team approach and promotes communication and students’ successful carryover of learned skills and strategies in their school day. Group interventions in school settings can be challenging. Practitioners need to carefully assess the policies and constraints under which they work and plan accordingly to maximize the potential for successful implementation of groups. This plan might involve starting a dialogue with administrators and staff to discuss the benefits of a collaborative approach in achieving mutual goals.

Learning Objectives:

1.      Discuss benefits of group interventions in school settings

2.      Differentiate between task-oriented groups and process-oriented groups.

3.      Identify barriers to providing group interventions in educational settings.

4.      Discuss best practices for determining need for occupational therapy in schools.

5.       Describe how group interventions can be implemented effectively in a multi-tiered system of support model to support participation in school.

Key Terms and Concepts:

·         Collaborative consultation

·         Differentiated instruction

·         Group protocol

·         Health promotion

·         Process oriented

·         Station teaching

·         Task oriented

·         Team teaching