School Based vs. Private Based OT

Working in the public school system, we sometimes get "referrals" from outside sources, such as a dr.'s office.  Or, we have parents who are under the assumption that because their child qualifies for OT services at an outpatient clinic, they would then also qualify for OT in the school system.  In special education, Occupational Therapy is referred to as a "related service."  What does that mean?  ND DPI defines a related service as follows:

"Related services consist of transportation and any developmental, corrective, or other
supportive services that are required to assist a student with disabilities to benefit from
the educational experience. Related services consist of the support services not
traditionally included in educational programs but which are necessary for some
students in order to make the educational services accessible or meaningful."

Furthermore, according to the Parent Guide to Special Education that is distributed by the ND Department of Public Instruction,

"Related services are defined as transportation and such developmental, corrective,
and other supportive services required to assist a child with a disability to benefit
from special education. Related services include:
• speech-language pathology and audiology services;
• interpreting services;
• psychological services;
• physical and occupational therapy;
• recreation, including therapeutic recreation;
• early identification and assessment of disabilities in children;
• counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling;
• orientation and mobility services; and
• medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes.
The term also includes school health services and school nurse services, social
work services in schools, and parent counseling and training." (pg 9)

According to DPI, OT is defined as:
"Occupational Therapy is provided to students who have documented needs in the
area of motor development that are impacting on the ability to engage in meaningful fine
motor tasks and performing functional academic and daily living tasks."

And OT is further described by the Parent Guide to Special Education that is distributed by the ND Department of Public Instruction as follows:

"Occupational Therapy--The use of purposeful activity with individuals who are
limited by physical injury or illness, psychosocial dysfunction, developmental or
learning disabilities, poverty and cultural differences, or the aging process in
order to maximize independence, prevent disability, and maintain health. The
therapy encompasses evaluation, treatment, and consultation." (pg 23)

That being said, there are distinct differences between school based and clinical based OT.  The type of therapy that is carried out by an OT in a clinical setting is not necessarily what an OT session in the school system might look like.  The type of therapy that is carried out in the school setting is based on an educational model vs. a medical model or a rehabilitative model.  What we do in the schools is related to your child being able to benefit from special education and allow for him/her to access their education in the least restrictive way and be successful in the school environment.  That being said, we serve many children who also receive outpatient OT services.  Part of our goal is to look at the whole child and work with their OT clinician outside of the school for the greatest good of your child.  However, there are times when the 2 services may have different objectives/goals based on the child's needs in the 2 environments (school and home/community).  For example, if your child does receive OT in the schools, and is issued a home program or suggestions to be carried out in the school system by their outside OT clinician, this would have to be further evaluated by the multidisciplinary team and school OT and determined to be relevant to their special education needs and/or required in order for him/her to be successful and function in the school environment.  Both services are important to and for your child, but it is important as their parent/caregiver to understand the differences between the education model vs. the medical model.

Ohana Therapy and Activity Center in Leavenworth, WA has a very nice write up about the differences between school based and private community based OT services, which you can read here:

http://www.ohanacenter.com/what-difference-between-school-based-and-private-community-based-occupational-therapy-services

References taken from the following publication:
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
Parent Guide to Special Education  Special Education in ND
United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)

and from the following website:  http://www.dpi.state.nd.us/