AOTA

Instructor

Jean E. Polichino, OTR, MS, FAOTA

Related Services Consultant

Credit: .15 AOTA CEUs (1.5 contact hours, 1.88 NBCOT PDUs)

Course Description

Occupational therapy services within public schools are provided within a system that differs a great deal from a medical systems approach with which OT practitioners may be more familiar.  At the heart of these differences is the understanding of practice under the rules and regulations of federal and state/local policies and procedures as well as the need for strong relationships with children, families and school staff while advocating for the roles of occupational therapy.  In addition, providing evidence-based interventions, collecting data, focusing interventions on school outcomes, and understanding the language of school systems drive an approach to OT intervention that is not present in other traditional settings.

This 3-course series covers the Why, How and What to lay the groundwork for school-based practice.

Module 3 presents information about best practices for occupational therapy in schools under IDEA and also describes OT contributions to IEP decision making.  In addition, best practices in OT interventions within the schools will be described.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this module, the learner will be able to:

• Name three (3) elements of the data-gathering process for evaluation in schools under IDEA.
• Specify three (3) appropriate elements for evaluation report writing in schools.
• Recognize four (4) critical components of a measurable IEP goal. 

Target Audience:  Occupational Therapy Practitioners

Learning level:  Intermediate

Key words:  School Based Practice, State and Federal Regulations