DDB Healthcare School Based Therapy

Schools provide therapy when a child with a disability requires this related service to assist the child to benefit from special education. Our therapists use purposeful activity to facilitate a child's active participation in self-maintenance; academic and vocational pursuits; and play or leisure activities that occur in school environments. Using direct and indirect services, as well as assistive technology and environmental modifications, school therapists collaborate with parents, teachers and other educational staff to help implement a child's special education program.
 
DDB Healthcare provides therapy to eligible students who may have one or more of the following disabilities (3 to 22 years of age) and an educational need that requires special education support and services:
 
  • Orthopedic impairment
  • Other health impairment
  • Mental retardation
  • Emotional disturbance
  • Learning disability
  • Speech impairment
  • Autism
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Multiple disabilities
  • Auditory or visual impairment
  • Students expected to be medically disabled for a minimum of four weeks
Our therapists bring specific knowledge and expertise to the education team to appropriately address student needs.  Therapists assistants know how to:
 
  • observe a student engaging in an activity and provide strategies to facilitate the student’s full participation
  • reduce barriers that limit student participation within the school environment
  • utilize assistive technology to support student success
  • support the needs of students with significant challenges, such as by helping to determine methods for alternate assessment
  • help identify long-term goals for post-school outcomes
  • help plan relevant instructional activities for ongoing implementation in the classroom

DDB Healthcare therapists work with a variety of individuals to address student needs.  DDB Healthcare therapists work with:


  • students to improve their performance in a variety of learning environments (e.g.,playgrounds, classrooms, lunchrooms, bathrooms)
  • parents to help them support their children’s learning and participation in school educators and other school support staff to plan and develop activities and environments that include all students
  • paraeducators to support child success and promote safety within the school environment (e.g., physical and behavioral assistance needs)
  • administrators to provide training for students, staff, and parents, as well as to recommend equipment for schools and ways to modify existing buildings and curriculum to allow access for all

DDB Healthcare therapy services for students with special needs are determined through the Individual Education Program (IEP) process.  School-based Occupational Therapy is available for students who are eligible for special education services.  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 other members of the education 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.  When the IEP team determines that occupational therapy is needed for a student in order to meet his or her annual goals, then occupational therapy should be included in the student’s IEP.


DDB Healthcare's Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants address student needs in other ways.  Occupational therapy practitioners and school districts across the country are finding innovative and creative ways to integrate occupational therapy expertise across educational environments.  This includes providing valuable services to meet the broader student and systemic needs beyond what is required under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  These services include occupational therapists participating in pre-referral activities to address student behavior and learning needs, curriculum and program development, and school health and safety; identifying assessment accommodations required under the No Child Left Behind mandates; and developing violence prevention programs and others.  Many schools utilize our occupational therapist’s knowledge and expertise to assist in developing curriculums such as handwriting and social skills.