OTPT

The Occupational and Physical Therapy Department of Houston County School System offers a school-based delivery model of services to eligible students as described in the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504. School-based occupational therapy and physical therapy services are not intended to take the place of private therapy. Medical diagnoses or medical issues that do not interfere with a student’s ability to access or participate in his or her educational program are not the focus of school-based therapy services. The focus and scope of school-based occupational therapy and physical therapy is to evaluate and address the student’s ability to function within the educational environment and the performance of those tasks and activities required of him or her to access the curriculum.

School-based therapy is integrated into the school’s educational program as a means to enhance function and meet educational objectives according to a student’s Individualized Education Plan. When occupational therapy and physical therapy are provided as educational services, decisions regarding what type of therapy is provided, how it is provided, and who is to provide it are directly tied to the student’s overall educational program. All team members support the attainment of these educational goals. Thus, therapy as a related service becomes a means or method to achieve educational goals and objectives, rather than the focus of separate therapy goals or objectives. School-based therapy is not intended to meet all the therapy needs of a student but is intended to meet the functional needs of the student to promote success in the educational environment.