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Special and general educators carry many roles, including observing child development from many different perspectives. A teacher may refer a student for a speech evaluation, cognitive testing, or a behavior assessment. While these performance areas seem distinct, teachers are often uncertain if they should refer a child for physical or occupational therapy since there is sometimes overlap between the two professions.<br>
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What is the Differencebetween PhysicalandOccupational Therapy?
Special and general educators carrymany roles, including observing childdevelopment from many differentperspectives. A teacher may refer a student for a speech evaluation, cognitive testing, or a behaviorassessment. While these performanceareas seem distinct, teachers areoftenuncertain if they should refer a childfor physical or occupational therapysince there is sometimes overlapbetween the twoprofessions.
Overview Both occupational and physical therapists are licensed professionals who graduated from anaccredited program (occupational therapy is an entry-level master’s or doctorate, and physicaltherapyisadoctoral-leveldegree).Inaschoolsetting,occupationalandphysicaltherapyareaddedtoaqualifyingchild’splantosupporttheireducationaloutcomes.Forexample,supposeachildhasanabnormalgaitpatternbutcanstillnavigatetheirclassroomenvironmentsafelyandefficiently.Inthatcase,theymaynotqualifyforschool-basedphysicaltherapy. Note:Ifastudent’soccupationalorphysicaltherapyneedsdonotinvolvetheirabilitytoaccesstheireducation,theymaybeabettercandidateforoutpatienttherapy.
WhatisPhysical Therapy? A physical therapist (PT) evaluates and treats a student’s physical motor skills. After evaluation, a physical therapist creates a plan of care and works with students to improve motor skills. A physical therapist may recommend adaptive equipment to enhance students’ ability to access their motor skills in the classroom. Examples of physical therapy intervention mayinclude: Balance: Navigating theclassroomwithoutfalling. Mobility: Climbing the stairssafely. Strength: Having the postural control tomaintainasittingpostureatthedeskorfloor. Stability: Stabilizing the core body andjoints so the child can kick a ball (hipjoint)orcutwithscissors(shoulderjoint).
An occupational therapist(OT) also evaluates and treatsstudents, but instead of focusing on physical motorskills, theysupport participation in meaningful activities. During theschool day, activities might include lessons, lunch, socialparticipation, transitions, specials, andmore. An OT creates anintervention plan to build student skills, change the activity,ormodify the environment for successful student participation. Someexamplesofoccupationaltherapyinterventioninclude: What isOccupationalTherapy? Handwriting Sensory processing Holding a pencil Dressing Using visual motorskills to use lines tocreate letters andalignthe letterson thebaseline. Integrating all of thesensory informationin a classroom in a way that is adaptiveand doesn’t inhibittheirparticipation. Using visual motor skills to use linesto create letters and aligning the letters on thebaseline. Independentlydressingfor classroomtransitions, includingrecess ortoileting.
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