Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists: Vital Members in the Rehabilitation and Educational Process of Disabled Students

Abstract

The services of physical and occupational therapists are being used more in public school settings as a result of the mandate of United States Public Law 94-142. These professionals help educators in developing the students' gross and fine motor skills, vocational skills, and self-help skills. In addition, physical therapists and occupational therapists serve with educators on transdisciplinary teams in developing goals and objectives to more appropriately meet the educational needs of disabled students.

The Image of the Profession in the Field of Developmental Disability: A Decade of Writing

“…Theme three, service delivery, appeared in seven articles, five times as a primary theme, These articles described service delivery in the following areas: early intervention (Therapy Centre Staff, 1979); with parents and institutions (Ciddor and Finnecome, 1980); deinstitutionalisation (Bartnik, Jones and Hunter, 1981); the school system (Poulsen and Ziviani, 1981); and with physical therapists in the rehabilitation and educational process of disabled students (Litton, Veron and Griffin, 1982).…”

“…53). Litton, Veron and Griffin (1982) also outlined an overall therapy function in the rehabilitation and educational process for students with a disability. In contrast, Ciddor and Finnecome (1980) documented a specific occupational therapy contribution in working with parents of children who are institutionalised.…”