School Based Rehab - Special Needs Students

WESTARM provides rehabilitation services to students with special needs through contracts with several area School Districts and Intermediate Units. The role of the Physical and Occupational Therapists in an educational setting is different than a traditional outpatient medical setting.

Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy in Educational Environments
The scope of physical, occupational, and speech therapy services within education is directed toward assisting a student with a disability to participate in and benefit from his or her individual education program through the use of intervention strategies and specifically designed instruction created to meet the student's individual needs.

Educational Relevance
If the disability of a student (mental, physical, learning, behavioral) affects the student's educational performance, therapy may assist the child to benefit from or gain access to the education program. Therapy provided as a related service must relate to the student's education goals and enhance the implementation of those goals.

Role of our licensed therapists in the education environment

1. Assessment of students through functional performance and interpretation of appropriate student tests and measures.
2. Recommendation of appropriate method of service delivery.
3. Planning and implementation of intervention strategies.
4. Education of staff, students, and family of the student's disabilities, special needs, functional status, use of equipment, and intervention strategies.
5. Assistance and counseling of family and staff regarding appropriate equipment and/or environmental adaptations to enhance the child's level of function.
6. Provision of appropriate documentation and communication with those involved in the student's education program: family, educators, medical systems, and the community.