Occupational Therapy

What Is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapists are major contributors to educational settings. These professionals provide occupational therapy services to support a child’s academic achievement, ability to engage in school activities or “occupations,” and advance positive behaviors needed to learn. Occupational Therapists support academic and non-academic outcomes, including social skills, mathematics, literacy, reading and writing, behavior management, self-help skills, and prevocational and vocational training.

What Do Occupational Therapists Do?

Occupational Therapists help students overcome hurdles that influence their ability to participate in a school setting. These professionals assess and treat conditions caused by visual-perceptual, motor, and sensory impairments. Professionals employed in Occupational Therapy work in schools, provide therapy sessions, consultations with teachers and staff members, adjustments to the learning context, and educational staff training. Occupational Therapists help children regain the skills needed to participate in regular school and home routines. These professionals have specific expertise and knowledge to promote students’ participation in activities throughout the school day. Interventions include:

Analyzing environments and activities to implement suggestions to enhance the fit for increased access, advancement, and engagement

Addressing the needs of students facing significant challenges, such as identifying methods of alternative educational evaluation and education

Offering assistive technology to promote student success

Helping students set long-term goals for relevant post-graduation plans

Planning appropriate educational activities for ongoing utilization in the classroom

Preparing students to segue successfully into postgraduate employment

Occupational Therapy Services at Therapy Source

Therapy Source is the leading provider of daily and long-term occupational therapy staffing solutions for public schools, charter schools, virtual schools, and other educational institutions. We provide schools with access to an impressive network of pediatric Occupational Therapists.

We offer online therapy solutions through TheraWeb, a highly accessible and innovative delivery model that enables children to receive real-time, online occupational therapy services via the web from a skilled occupational therapy professional. In other words, regardless of where you live, our credentialed professionals are available to help your students at any time, whenever needed.

Are you interested in learning more about how your school can benefit from partnering with Therapy Source? We’d love to hear from you. Please contact us or request our services today.

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Why Schools Choose Therapy Source for Occupational Therapy Staffing

Therapy Source has been connecting school districts with qualified Occupational Therapists since 2001. Our OTs and COTAs specialize in school-based practice — helping students develop fine motor skills, sensory processing, handwriting, self-care, and the functional skills needed to participate fully in the classroom and school environment.

Frequently Asked Questions About School-Based Occupational Therapy Staffing

What does a school-based Occupational Therapist do?

School-based Occupational Therapists help students develop the functional skills needed for learning and participation in the school environment. This includes fine motor skill development, handwriting, sensory processing, visual-motor integration, self-care routines, and adaptive strategies for students with physical, cognitive, or behavioral challenges. OTs evaluate students, develop IEP goals, and provide direct therapy and consultation services.

What qualifications do Therapy Source OTs have?

Therapy Source Occupational Therapists hold a Master’s or doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy, are licensed in the state where they will practice, and are registered as an Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR). All candidates are vetted for school-based experience, state licensure compliance, and HIPAA/FERPA training before placement.

Can Therapy Source provide teletherapy OT services for schools?

Yes. Therapy Source offers teletherapy occupational therapy services through our TheraWeb® platform. Our online OTs can provide consultation, evaluation support, and direct therapy for students with appropriate teletherapy candidacy. Teletherapy OT is particularly valuable for rural districts or schools with OT staffing shortages.

What is the difference between an OT and a COTA?

An Occupational Therapist (OT/OTR) is a licensed clinician who evaluates students and designs occupational therapy programs independently. A Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) works under the supervision of a licensed OT and provides direct treatment. Therapy Source places both OTs and COTAs to give school districts flexible, cost-effective staffing solutions.