School Based Occupational Therapy
and Physical Therapy (OT/PT)

IDEA legislation has presented great opportunities and
challenges for Occupational Therapists and Physical
Therapists working in school systems.  Our identity as a Related Special Education Service obliges us to provide support that is educationally relevant, or is “required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education.”  This implies that we work as a member of a team, we must follow due process, and our services must be aimed at helping children learn and perform school tasks. 

School therapists continue to shape and define “best practice” by confronting many current and varied concepts such as least restrictive environment, client-centered services, function-based intervention related to occupational roles, episodic care, evidence-based practice; and opportunities for involvement with 504 plans, response to intervention, or pre-referral activities.  Constraints include shrinking budgetary resources, increasing workloads, hefty documentation/accountability responsibilities, and ever evolving legal and legislative influences.

OTs and PTs working in MN schools can access support through the Resources link on this page, or by clicking here.

For more information, please contact Lois Lillie – OTR/L, Statewide Specialist for School-Based Occupational Therapy & Physical Therapy at 763-550-7171 or lalillie@district287.org