occupational therapy vs illegible print in the schools 2009

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Illegible handwriting versus occupational therapy intervention.

WHAT IS THE CHILD’S OCCUPATION Work Play

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN SCHOOLS

“An occupational therapist considers the child's occupations of play and school. If a child is unable to fully participate in play or school, the occupational therapist provides services to increase the child's function and success. A student must be in special education, with an identified disability, in order to receive occupational therapy services in the school system”.

(http://www.lisd.net/speced/otweb/index.htm)

HOW CAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY HELP?

Areas of treatment Visual Motor Integration Visual Perceptual Motor Visual Spatial Awareness Motor coordination Motor planning Postural stability Sensory Processing

VISUAL MOTOR SKILLS

“The ability to draw or reproduce what one sees.”

(Handy Learning Susan Thompson, OTR, 2004)

VISUAL PERCEPTION

“The ability to see, discern and recognize shapes visually.”

(Handy Learning Susan Thompson, OTR, 2004)

MOTOR COORDINATION AND MOTOR PLANNING

“The ability to move through a novel motor task without difficulties and transfer learned movement patterns to new tasks.”

(Handy Learning Susan Thompson, OTR, 2004)

PROXIMAL STABILITY

“The ability to maintain a fixed posture without external support”.

(Handy Learning Susan Thompson, OTR, 2004)

SENSORY PROCESSING

“Sensory Processing involves the ability to take in information about our environment through the senses and use the information in a meaningful and functional manner.”

(http://www.lisd.net/speced/otweb/sensoryProcessing.htm)

SIGNIFICANT DELAY

For a student to qualify for occupational therapy as a related service they must present with a significant delay that impacts their ability to access their school curriculum.

So what can we do for those students who may not qualify for occupational therapy intervention but have a difficult time with their writing skills???

HIERARCHY OF THE REFERRAL PROCESS WITHIN THE WALLENPAUPACK SCHOOL DISTRICT.

Teacher identifies a need Teacher contacts school guidance counselor Trouble shooting ideas and support

interventions are given to the teacher Teacher trials interventions for 6 weeks If no progress is being made, the student is

referred to the SAP team. Team will determine necessity for an

Occupational therapy screen Occupational therapist will screen and make

determination as to whether or not the student will require an OT evaluation.

HOW THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST CAN HELP IN THE RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION PROCESS!!!

Trouble Shooting Ideas……………………. Guide the SAP team in the determination of

appropriate intervention strategies.

REFERENCES Case-Smith, J., (2001) Occupational therapy for Children 4th edition.

St. Louis, MI: Mosby Inc.

Thompson, S., (2004) Handy Learning Activities for Hand Developmental and Curriculum

Enhancement. Retrieved from www.handylearning.com

Clark Brack, J. ( 2006) Sensory Processing Disorder Kit: Simulations and Solutions

for Parents, Teachers and Therapists. Shawnee Mission, KS: Autism Asperger Publishing

Company.