School occupational therapists (OT) are key contributors within the education team. They support a student’s ability to participate in desired daily school activities or “occupations.” They help children to fulfill their role as students by supporting their academic achievement and promoting positive behaviors necessary for learning. School occupational therapists (and occupational therapy assistants, under the supervision of the occupational therapist) support academic and non-academic outcomes, including social skills, math, reading and writing (i.e., literacy), behavior management, recess, participation in sports, self-help skills, prevocational/vocational participation, transportation, and more. Because of their expertise in activity and environmental analysis, these practitioners are particularly skilled in facilitating student access to curricular and extracurricular activities and promoting independence both in and outside of the classroom. They focus on the students’ strengths, and can design and implement programming to improve inclusion and accessibility.
Responsibilities of the Occupational Therapist include:
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Reducing barriers that limit student participation within the school environment
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Supporting the needs of students with significant challenges by helping to determine methods for alternate educational assessment and learning
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Helping to plan relevant instructional activities for ongoing implementation in the classroom
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Helping to identify short- and long-term goals for appropriate post-school outcomes
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Helping students develop self-advocacy and self-determination skills in order to plan for their future and transition to college, career/employment, and community living
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Improving access to and performance in learning environments throughout the school (e.g., playgrounds, classrooms, lunchrooms, bathrooms); and optimizing students’ performance through specific adaptations, accommodations, and equipment
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Supporting parent engagement with school activities such as attendance in individualized education program (IEP) meetings with cultural sensitivity, or assisting in homework management issues by monitoring stress levels and volume of work
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Providing parents with appropriate resources, education, and learning opportunities to support home-to-school carryover of skills
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Supporting educators and other school support staff by offering curricular modifications to support diverse learning abilities and to meet state learning standards
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Supporting instructional assistants by providing education on specific delays/diagnoses and intervention ideas to help with child success and promote safety within the school environment (e.g., physical and behavioral assistance needs)
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Providing training for students, staff, and parents, such as offering recess promotion strategies or contributing to anti-bullying initiatives
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Recommending equipment for schools and ways to modify existing buildings and curriculum to allow access for all
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Keeping records of daily therapy sessions and billing Medicaid through IIEP system
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Completing quarterly progress monitoring of therapy goals within the IIEP system
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Collaborating with all members of a student’s team to set appropriate yearly IEP goals
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When asked, OTs may be required to supervise COTAs. Supervising OTs must co-sign all treatment notes in IIEP within 7 days of the note being written. Additional supervision requirements may include mentoring, collaborating on student goals/interventions, updating quarterly and yearly progress, and attending case conferences
Diagnostic, Assistive Technology, and Equipment Responsibilities:
- Conducting activity and environmental analysis and making recommendations to improve the fit for greater access, progress, and participation
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Providing assistive technology to support student success
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Complete evaluations and assessments to determine appropriate therapeutic goals and provisions
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Instructing students, staff members, and families in the use of any adaptive equipment or assistive technology
Other Duties and Responsibilities as may be assigned.
It is the policy of the MSD Decatur Township not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs or employment policies as required by the Indiana Civil Rights Act (I.C. 22-9.1), Title VI and VII (Civil Rights Act of 1964), the Equal Pay Act of 1973, Title IX (Educational Amendments), and Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973).
