ABOUT

School-based occupational therapy practitioners support academic achievement and social participation by promoting occupation within all school routines, including recess, classroom, and cafeteria time. 



Occupational therapy is a health profession in which therapists and therapy assistants help individuals engage in the specific activities that make up daily life. For children and youth in schools, occupational therapy works to ensure that a student can participate in the full breadth of school activities—from paying attention in class; concentrating on the task at hand; holding a pencil, musical instrument, or book in the easiest way; or just behaving appropriately in class.

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 Practitioners are particularly skilled in facilitating student access to curricular and extracurricular activities through supports, designing and planning, and other methods. Additionally, they play a critical role in training parents, other staff members, and caregivers regarding educating 

students with diverse learning needs

School-based occupational therapy is available for students 

who are eligible for special education. Occupational 

therapists complete assessments and work with other 

members of the school-based team to help determine 

what is needed for a student to receive a free appropriate 

public education in the least restrictive environment. They 

collaborate with the team to identify a student’s annual 

goals and determine the services, supports, modifications, 

and accommodations that are required for the student to 

achieve these goals