School-Based Occupational Therapy

 

School-based occupational therapy practitioners support academic achievement and social participation by promoting occupation within all school routines, including recess, classroom, and cafeteria time.  They help children fulfill their role as students and prepare them for college, career, and community integration. They utilize prevention, promotion, and intervention strategies for mental and physical health and well-being (AOTA, 2015).

 

 

In a school Occupational therapists might:

• help kids work on fine motor skills so they can grasp and release toys and develop good handwriting skills
• address hand-eye coordination to improve kids' play and school skills (ex. hitting a target, batting a ball, copying from a blackboard)
• help kids with self care needs (ex. shoe tying, clothes management for toileting, putting on jacket )
• help kids with behavioral disorders maintain positive behaviors in all environments (e.g., instead of hitting others or acting out, using positive ways to deal with anger, such as participating in a physical activity)
• teach kids with physical disabilities the coordination skills needed to, use a computer, or increase the speed and legibility of their handwriting
• evaluate a child's need for adaptive equipment such as seat cushions, slant boards, auditory devices, splints, etc.
• work with kids who have sensory and attention issues to improve focus and social skills

 

More information on school-based Occupational Therapy (click below): 

 FW project- School Settings fact sheet.pdf