Types of School Therapy Programs
With the prevalence of learning disabilities in the classroom, school therapists are always in high demand. Most schools have access to a team of therapy specialists who can help with speech, occupational, and language issues, and many other problems that children face in and out of the classroom.
Many times, parents and teachers are not aware of all of the different programs available. Healthcare workers should make themselves aware of the different services that are available within the school system and share that information with parents, to create a cohesive plan of action when working to improve the life of a child.
1. Speech Therapy
Speech therapy is one of the most well-known school services. These programs are designed for students with a debilitating speech or language issue that requires intervention from a speech-language pathologist. Each district has its own set of criteria to determine qualification for speech services. The two most common factors in the decision are whether there is an actual disability present and whether that disability affects the student’s academic performance.
2. Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy is a wonderful tool for students with both gross and fine motor skill weaknesses. In some school districts, physicians’ orders are required for students to be able to visit with occupational therapists within the school for sessions. However, in others, sometimes the occupational therapists’ assessment is all that is necessary. Many districts share occupational therapists between multiple schools, so it may take time to have patients assessed for school-level services.
3. Water, Animal, and Other Specialty Therapies
In some school districts, programs like water therapy, horseback riding, and other forms of therapy are in place for students with varying levels of disabilities. These can be used for students who need additional gross and fine motor skills therapy, or in some cases, to assist students who have difficulty focusing and communicating. Check with your local school district to see if any special resources could be useful to your students.
4. School Psychology
School psychologists are often the first school clinicians to spot a mental health issue with a child. Generally, they are not able to diagnose and treat mental health concerns, but they are a wonderful resource for physicians working with students. Though mental health services at school should not be a replacement for treatment by a medical professional, they should be brought into the loop with any known diagnoses so that they can handle any situations that arise during school hours.
Check with your local school districts to find out which services are available and what the qualifications are for students to take advantage of those services. Connect with the therapists and counselors to get their feedback on treatment changes that are working and things that are not. With a team approach between physicians, school therapists, and family, students’ lives are impacted for the better.
