School
based physical therapy is a related service to special education. A
student with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is eligible to
receive a related service, such as occupational or physical therapy, if
that student requires the related service in order to benefit from
his/her exceptional education programming. Physical therapy is an
important part of the collaborative team that supports ESE students
towards developing strategies for success in schools. The provision of
therapy and outcome is based on the impact the disability has on
educational performance rather than on the disability itself. Deciding
whether a student may need physical therapy in order to benefit from
exceptional education programming, requires the consideration of
multiple factors. The physical environment, needs of the student,
professional experience of the educators, specific programming currently
in place are a few of the many context specific factors that determine
whether a student requires a related service in order to benefit from
his/her exceptional educational programming. If a student has an
identifiable therapy need that does not affect the student’s ability to
learn, function, and profit from the educational experience, therapy is
not the responsibility of the school system.
Frequently Asked Questions
- If I have a concern, what should I do? Share
your concerns and observations with your child’s teacher or staffing
coordinator. This may be done during an informal conference or as part
of the Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting.
- What happens after I express my concerns? A
student who is observed to have specific difficulties in functional
mobility, balance, gross motor skills, or endurance and who has not
responded to interventions in their primary Exceptional Student
Education (ESE) program may be referred for a physical therapy
evaluation. The evaluation will be scheduled once a referral and consent
for re-evaluation are completed, signed by the parent/guardian, and
forwarded to the OT/PT department. The student’s overall
academic/developmental skills, physical skills and medical
considerations are taken into account as part of the evaluation. The
need for therapy intervention is based on the student’s level of
performance, potential for improvement in the areas assessed, and level
of support already provided by the ESE program.
- How are Physical Therapy services provided? Intervention
can be provided by direct service or consultation. Direct therapy
intervention is a model in which the therapist is primarily responsible
for working with the student and implementing strategies to address the
areas of need. This information is shared with the teachers on a regular
basis. Consultation is a model in which the therapist and teacher work
collaboratively to come up with strategies to address student needs and
the teacher is primarily responsible for working with the student. The
therapist consults with the teacher on a regular basis to determine
whether strategies are successful or require modification to meet
student needs.