Physical Therapy (PT) services for children and young adults are delivered primarily in either school or clinical settings.  In each setting, PTs are required to follow state and federal laws regarding practice.  Each setting has it's own set of standards and practices.  School based PT is provided as a related service to a student's special education program and is provided only if the student needs physical therapy to function in the educational setting.  School based PT services must contribute to the development or improvement of a student's academic and/or functional performance in a school setting.  PT in schools is provided to assist the student to benefit from his/her education, NOT to maximize the student's opportunities. Goals must be educationally relevant and directly help each individual child with a disability achieve instructional goals as defined in the Individual Education Plan (IEP).   The role of PT in a school setting is to provide services as identified on the IEP, not to meet the non-educational needs of the student.  The focus of school based PT is on developing skills or achieving goals as efficiently as possible within the educational setting.  

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REFERENCES:

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Link to Ohio State Physical Therapy Practice Act:  

http:otptat.ohio.gov/Portals/0/laws/2012%20PT%20Law%20Effective%20May%201.pdf

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American Physical Therapy Association,  Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy FACT SHEET:  "Physical Therapy for Educational Benefit"

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American Physical Therapy Association, Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy FACT SHEET:  "The Role of School Based Physical Therapy:  Successful Participation for All Students"

 

 Bogacki Lisa J, PT, MPH,  "Setting the Record Straight", ADVANCE for Physical Therapy and Rehab Medicine, 

July 18, 2016

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Effgen, SK, et. al., "Updating Competencies for PTs Working in Schools", Pediatric Physical Therapy, Winter 2007

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David, K., & McEwen, I.R. (2001), The individuals with disabilities education act:  Roles of PTs in Educational environments,  In Damiano (Ed.)  Topics in physical therapy:  Pediatrics (Chapter 3, pp. 1 - 16)

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