Horseheads Central School District
School-Based Occupational and Physical Therapy Services
School-based OT and PT services for children from ages 3 to 21 are defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as "related services" and thus must support the specially designed instruction listed on the IEP. Motor delays confirmed by evaluation results do not automatically indicate a need for school therapy. There must also be an impact on the child's performance or access to their educational environment and/or program. School therapy must deal primarily with the impact the disability has on the student's function in the educational process.
The Horseheads Central School district provides school-based occupational and physical therapy services to students meeting eligibility criteria. For children age 3 to 21 who require special education, occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) services must be related to the goals in the special education program and described in the child's individualized education plan (IEP).
As a rule, the activities of school occupational and physical therapists fall into four categories:
- Evaluate the motor functioning of students with disabilities and assist in determining service needs
- Often completed by school therapists when the child has an impairment or deficit in gross motor, finemotor, and/or sensory motor skills that significantly affects the child's educational performance
- Address access to education for students with disabilities
- Both the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 require that school programs provide the same level of access for students with disabilities that are provided to non-disabled students in all services provided by the school.
- Examples might include modification of positioning equipment, computer adaptations, modification of curricular tasks to account for physical limitations, or modification of building or playground in consultation with district facilities staff.
- Address safety of students and school staff
- Monitoring a student's motor skills to ensure activities are safe, consulting with school staff regarding equipment used by the student, such as walkers, wheelchairs, school chairs, and feeding utensils to ensure all are appropriate
- Observe students for the possible development of medical problems, such as contractures or muscle weakness, and act as the liaison between the school and the child's family and medical provider
- Instruct school staff in proper lifting, safe feeding, and physical management skills to address the safety of both the student and the school staff
- Provide consultation about the unique needs of identified students to personnel who are responsible for developing evacuation plans and other safety procedures
- Assist in ensuring building accessibility and meeting the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Help teach motor skills associated with success in school
- Help plan, implement, and monitor instructional programs addressing the development or refinement of fine motor skills, gross motor skills, postural adaptations, or ability to complete learning activities
More about Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy services focus on the student's educational performance. These services are different from those available through medical and community-based providers. OT is provided to enhance a student's abilities to adapt to and function in an educational program through active participation with purposeful, goal-directed activities.
A student's education is further developed in the following areas:
- Fine motor skills: Use of pencil, scissors, utensils, manipulatives
- Sensory processing: Stimulation and integration of senses, movement, and position of body as well as self-regulation in the school setting
- Activities of daily living: Self care, i.e. dressing, hygiene, eating in the school setting
- Perceptual motor skills: Visual motor control, awareness of left and right, perception of form and size, correct perception of letters and numbers
- Adaptive equipment: Scissors, keyboard, pencil grips, hand orthoses
Home activities
Fine motor skills are important in most school activities, as well as life in general. Weaknesses in fine motor skills can affect a child's ability to eat, write legibly, use a computer, turn pages in a book, and perform personal care tasks such as dressing and hygiene.
Activities that can be implemented at home:
- Helping with cooking tasks such as stirring, pouring, spreading, measuring
- Doing dot-to-dot activities
- Playing catch with different sized balls
- Jumping rope
- Drawing and writing in dirt or sand
- Playing games such as Connect Four, Operation, puzzles, Legos, and cards
- Sorting objects such as buttons, paper clips, screws, bolts
- Threading beads
- Rolling, shaping, and pinching clay for hand/finger strength
- Taking swim lessons
- Climbing
- Cutting and pasting
Occupational therapists...
- Work as members of the educational team which includes the student, parent/guardian, teacher, teaching assistant, and other support personnel
- Assist in developing and delivering programs that enhance or support the student's educational goals
- Consult with and provide resources to school staff, parents/guardians, and the school community
- Work with other agencies that provide services to students
- Assess students' development and the functional skills needed for school
- Adapt equipment, activities, or the environment to help student participate as independently as possible in the school environment
- Prevent or reduce the progression of further disability through techniques and advise on correct positioning during activities
- Are licensed through New York State and must take continuing education classes to maintain their license
More about Physical Therapy
School physical therapists assist children in achieving their educational goals by improving their access and participation in the school environment. Physical therapists work with children to help them attain movement and function in the school setting, including in classrooms, hallways, rest rooms, cafeteria, library, physical education areas, and the playground. Services are provided in the school setting and may be provided directly to the student or indirectly to parents/guardians and/or educational staff to benefit the student. Assistance with adaptive equipment and/or orthotics is also provided as needed.
Physical therapists look at the reasons students find it difficult to access and participate in their educational environment and programs. In order to accomplish this, physical therapists will assess the student's abilities within the school environment:
- Accessing classrooms
- Moving around the school
- Participating in the physical education setting
- Playing during recess
Physical therapists use their knowledge of posture; nerves, muscles, joints, and bones; movement, coordination and balance; and fitness to assist students in the educational setting. To help student's meet their educational goals, physical therapists may...
- Advise on choice of seating or standing equipment
- Advise on mobility within the classroom and around the school
- Recommend changes to school environment to allow for student's involvement in activities
- Assist with orthotic and/or wheelchair interventions as appropriate
- Train appropriate staff in safe handling techniques
- Suggest changes to existing educational program to meet specific needs
- Provide home programs
Physical therapists...
- Work as members of the educational team, assisting the team to adapt school activities to achieve educational goals
- Consult with and provide resources to school staff, parents/guardians, and the school community
- Help children develop gross motor performance and prerequisite skills at school
- Are licensed through New York State and must take continuing education classes to maintain their license
- Require a physician referral to provid services to a student
Services Under Section 504
Some students with disabilities may not be in need of specially designed instructional programs (special education) but may still need the services of an occupational or physical therapist to benefit from their regular educational program. For these students, the therapist may work with the school to:
- Evaluate the motor needs of the child
- Help ensure access
- Help ensure safety
Questions? Contact the Horseheads Central School District Student Services Office at 607-739-5601, x4302, or email hcsdinfo@horseheadsdistrict.com.
*GST BOCES employee
| Occupational Therapists: | Heather Blitz | Big Flats, Intermediate School |
| Stacy Klug* | Middle School | |
| Emily Richards OTR/L | Ridge Road, High School | |
| Bobbi Southard OTR/L* | Middle School | |
| Heidi Tomassi OTR/L | Intermediate School, Gardner Road, Middle School |
| Physical Therapists: | Marcia Dickinson PT | Big Flats, Intermediate School, Middle School |
| Kristin Farwell PT/DPT/CLT | Ridge Road, Intermediate School | |
| Alisha Tenbus PT/DPT | Intermediate School, Ridge Road, Gardner Road, Middle School, High School | |
| Melissa Wichtowski PT* | Ridge Road |