PHYSICAL THERAPY

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School-Based
Physical Therapy

What is school-based physical therapy?

Physical therapy for school-age children under the Individual with Disabilities Education Act, Part B (IDEA), is a related service to assist a child with a disability to benefit from Special Education. PT supports a child’s academic and functional goals. A physical therapist's role is to work collaboratively with a student's Individual Education Program (IEP) team. Our physical therapist provides screening, evaluation, program planning, and intervention.

http://idea.ed.gov

What students are eligible for school physical therapy service?

Students who are identified between the ages of 3-21 years of age and have a disability that affects their ability to access the school curriculum and their special services may be eligible for physical therapy services in the least restrictive environment. You can learn more about our state regulations by clicking below.

http://www.ride.ri.gov/regents/docs/regentsregulations

Supports, Modifications and Accomodations for Students

http://nichcy.org/schoolage/accomodations

American Physical Therapy Association

http://www.apta.org/

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Our physical therapist does provide the following types of interventions & supports, based on collaborative team decisions:

·  Assess the need for specialized equipment including adaptive chairs, standers,   alternate positioning device, and bathroom equipment.

·  Train school staff on proper lifting and body mechanics and use of specialized equipment.

·  Provide training to students and school staff on mobility in the school setting, which includes walking, managing stairs, ramps, curbs, change in terrain, hallways, and in the classroom setting.

·  Provide strategies to promote access to school related activities, such as field trips, extra-curriculum activities, and community based instruction, and vocational training.

·   Assess students’ ability to keep up with peers (tires easily, reduce endurance)

·   Assess the students ability to access playground or gym equipment

·   Provide instruction on wheelchair mobility, transfer training, and toileting.

·   Improve gross motor development which impact their school performance

 
Our physical therapist may also work on the following activities:

 ·   Coordination activities

·   Sensory processing such as obstacle course, swings, and jumping

·   Balance activities

·   Strengthening and stretching exercises

·   Gross motor skills for physical education and recess

·   Therapeutic exercises

Our physical therapist may consider the following skill areas:

  • Coordination skills: difficulty throwing, catching, or kicking a ball

  • Sensory processing: poor body awareness or fearful of movement.

  • Balance skills: frequent falls, stumble when walking

  • Developmental motor skills:  Difficulty with transitions from the floor to standing

  • Self care skills: Transferring on/off the toilet

  • Gross motor skills: jumping, skipping, and hopping

  • Posture: slumps on classroom desk, poor posture in sitting

How are services delivered?

Our PT may provide consultation, direct treatment, or trainings to parents and school staff based on IEP team decisions. The deliveries of these services are provided in the classroom, small group, or individual treatments in a variety of school settings.