Relating your Related Services: the Role of OT, PT, and SLP in the School-Setting
Occupational therapists (OTs), physical therapists (PTs), and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are related services personnel and are considered Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (ESSA, 2015). They are important members of the school culture and community who provide support to students and staff based on their knowledge of human development, disability, and disease processes. They are trained in evidence-based interventions, High Leverage Practices (McLeskey et al., 2019), accommodations, and modifications to promote participation in the least restrictive environment. OTs, PTs, and SLPs are a critical resource for supporting all students when educationally relevant and necessary for a free and appropriate public education, but what does this really mean and how do they relate? Join us as we discuss strategies to ignite the role of these key personnel and bring coherence to special education and related services. This session is presented by Amy Goddard, Tabitha Riendeau, and Charity Avery from the Office of Special Education at DESE. Content is relevant for occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, teachers, school psychology specialists, administrators, and other stakeholders. To maximize learning benefit, it’s best to bring a team!