Physical Therapy
What is school-based Physical Therapy (PT)?
Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are integral members of school-based teams that ensure a free and appropriate education for students with disabilities and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living in many cases.
Therapy practitioners can assist with problem solving to eliminate barriers that hinder access to educational environments and assist with modifications and accommodations to support students in their regular education or special education program.
The role of occupational therapists and physical therapists in the team decision-making process involves collecting and analyzing the evaluation data and conveying to the team members its impact on the student’s ability to access and participate in the educational environment and programs.
Under the IDEA, OT and PT are considered related services and are provided to support the student’s IEP.
School-based OT and PT are not intended to meet all the therapy needs of a child but are intended to meet needs of the student to promote success in the educational environment. This is an important distinction between therapies provided in schools and those provided in the clinical setting. Some students require only community-based therapy; some only need therapy at school; some need both.
What do PT services look like at SEDOL?
SEDOL’s team of Physical Therapists (PT) and Physical Therapy Assistants (PTA) work with students in every program in a variety of modes; individually, in small or large groups, and often on a monitoring and consulting basis as the student achieves progress and interventions are in place. The consultation model includes observing the student in the classroom, throughout the school, and in the community.
SEDOL’s Physical Therapy team assists students, parents/guardians, educational teams, and our member districts by:
- Assessing how students access their environment and their ability to participate in their education. The therapists assess specific sensory, perceptual and motor abilities to determine what barriers are present that impact the students’ learning and participation in their educational program.
- PT then determines what specialized interventions and strategies can be incorporated to minimize the barriers, and to facilitate the students' learning and participation in their educational program, while in a naturally occurring setting and context.
- The therapists also work with the educational teams to adapt, modify, and accommodate specific school tasks. Training is provided to classroom staff as they are the primary implementers who work with the students daily.