Have you ever wondered if OT can serve on speech-only IEPs? Like many questions in special education, there’s not an easy yes or no answer. But by understanding the law and background behind this question, you can determine if this is the right option for your student. What is a “Speech-Only” IEP? First off, let’s …
As a school-based OT, you likely care a lot about being great at your job. You probably also want to be as effective as possible for your students. And while there are a lot of things that you can start doing to improve, there are also things that you can actually cut from your practice …
If you’re a pediatric OT, you may be wondering which setting is a better fit for you: school-based OT vs outpatient peds. While these settings are similar, they’re also different enough that most therapists who’ve done both have a clear preference. Curious which one is right for you? Consider the following positives and negatives of …
School-Based OT vs. Outpatient Peds: Pros and Cons Read More »
School-based OT is a wonderful job, but it can be a challenging setting to break into if you have no experience. However, it is totally possible! Whether you’re a brand new grad looking for your first OT job, or whether you have 20+ years of experience in another setting, there are steps you can take …
How to Get a School-Based OT Job with No Experience Read More »
If you’re looking to get a school-based OT job, you may be wondering if you’re better off working directly for a district or as a contractor. Unfortunately, the answer to this isn’t cut and dry. There are multiple variables that you need to consider when comparing school-based OT roles, and the best position is highly …
School-Based OT Employment: Direct Hire or Contract? Read More »
School-based OT is surrounded by much confusion and misinformation. Despite occupational therapy being an incredibly broad, holistic field, school-based OTs are often pigeonholed into roles as “handwriting specialists” or “fine motor therapists.” And what’s worse is when school-based OTs push back against these limitations, they are often met with resistance and told to “stay in …
What resources do you find truly essential to your school-based OT practice? If you’re looking for things to add to your toolbox, these are the school-based OT resources that I’ve gotten the most bang for my buck for over the years. Whether they’ve saved me time, strengthened my practice, or just made my job easier, …
Looking to make your school-based OT practice more effective? Whether you’ve been a school-based OT for one year or twenty-five, here are six actionable steps you can take to make your school-based OT practice more impactful and meaningful today. Put systems into place for time management Schools in America are chronically underfunded, and one way …
6 Ways to Make Your School-Based OT Practice More Effective Right Now Read More »
School-based OT has a fair amount of pros and cons. While I love working in this setting, I’m very aware of all of the drawbacks that come with this role, as well. Whether the pros of school-based OT outweigh the cons is a very personal decision for each therapist. But, if you’re trying to determine …
One of the biggest perks of working in education is that you get the summers off, but this also leads a lot of school-based OTs to wonder how they can continue to make money over the summer. Luckily, this flexibility leads to a lot of options! If you decide that you don’t want to take …
9 Ways for School-Based OTs to Make Money Over the Summer Read More »
