Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants provide consultation to educators, parents, and students who need assistance. The consultation process provides therapists with flexibility to focus on changing needs of students over the course of the year using a variety of methods. Consultation occurs in the educational environment that the student needs to access.

The focus of consultation can include a variety of activities and interventions, including direct instruction of functional skills, coaching, modeling, adaptations to environment or task, and demonstrating needed skills. Consultation also occurs through attendance at IEP team meetings and participation in planning for accommodations, information sharing and systems supports. Therapists communicate with outside medical providers and facilitate the use of assistive technology and equipment. 

Within dedicated consultation time, the occupational therapy staff provide direct instruction to students while working in the context of modeling and coaching skills for classroom staff. In some districts, on occasion and for a specific student, the occupational therapy staff will provide targeted, limited-term skill instruction in an area that the team has identified as a key foundational skill best taught using this mode.

Occupational therapists evaluate the functional skills of students with disabilities using tools designed to identify strengths and barriers that the student experiences to accessing and participating in their educational environment. Occupational therapists can participate in evaluations in a variety of ways. They can use standardized assessments, functional assessments, observational information and input from classroom and school staff to describe current levels of functioning, document progress, and identify barriers and areas of need. If functional limitations are found to significantly affect school performance, the occupational therapist provides recommendations regarding access, safety, and participation with the focus on functional skills and adaptations for participating in the school and learning environment.

Consultation is a broad term that provides therapists with flexibility to focus on a student’s changing needs over the course of the year using a variety of methods. Consultation occurs in the educational environment in which the student participates and with the staff pertinent to the student’s success. 

Consultation by physical therapists and physical therapy assistants can include a variety of activities and interventions. Examples include: 

• Direct instruction of functional skills

• Demonstration, training, and coaching of staff

• Attendance at IEP and other team meetings

• Communication with outside medical providers and translation of medical needs to a school team

• Fitting and facilitating the use of equipment related to positioning or mobility

• Specialized planning regarding mobility

• Support for students on field trips or participating in outdoor school.  

Physical therapists can participate in evaluation in a variety of ways. They use standardized assessments, functional assessments, observational information and input from classroom and school staff to describe current levels of a student’s function, identify barriers and areas of need, and document progress.   

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