Motor Team

The Motor Team consists of Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists and Adapted Physical Education teachers.  All of these support student’s abilities to access the learning environment.

Occupational Therapy

School-based Occupational Therapy (OT) is designed to enhance the student’s ability to access the learning environment. OT services may be provided to help a student access the motor components of their specialized instruction. Students with significant fine motor, visual motor, visual-perceptual, sensory motor and/or gross motor deficits may qualify for support to enable them to benefit from their educational environment. Service delivery options and settings are based on the individual needs of the student and determined by the IEP or school team but could include in class or out of the classroom support and through direct or indirect services. OTs work with the teacher to modify the classroom and/or adapt learning materials to facilitate successful participation.

Physical Therapy

Physical Therapists work collaboratively with a student’s IEP team to improve student access and participation in school and community settings.  Physical Therapists provide professional expertise in the areas of self-help skills, foundational gross motor skills, mobility skills (transfers, walking, and equipment use), posture and positioning, and recreational skills for age-appropriate play.  Physical Therapy interventions promote skill acquisition and environmental adaptation and are commonly embedded within the context of student activities and routines.

Physical Therapy is treatment that helps people improve their movement and physical function, manage pain and other chronic conditions, and recover from, and prevent injury and chronic disease.  Physical Therapists are movement experts.  They are licensed doctors who examine, diagnose and treat movement dysfunction.  

Difference between outpatient and school-based physical therapy:

School-based PT promotes access to academic curriculum and participation in other school activities and the school environment.  
Medical-based PT a wide range of medical needs including any impairments and functional limitations.

Adapted Physical Education Specialist

Adapted Physical Education focuses on gross motor movements; object control, locomotor, functional skills, physical fitness, motor fitness (improving motor coordination of skills), recreation/leisure activities, sport and game skills, dance, and aquatics. APE teachers strive to improve movement performance and facilitate a child’s ability to access their school environment and keep up with their peers in a school setting.

As a direct service, Adapted Physical Education is provided to students who have needs that cannot be adequately addressed in the regular physical education program. In addition to APE, other service delivery options include APE collaboration and APE consultation, specially designed physical education, modified physical education, and general physical education.

Adapted Physical Education vs. Educational Physical Therapy:

Adapted Physical Education Specialists and Physical Therapists both focus on improving a student’s gross motor skills, but they focus on different areas related to the student’s education.  Adapted Physical Education Specialists focus on gross motor skills required for Physical Education and recess activities. The Physical Therapist focuses on mobility in the classroom, and on the school campus, and assists students with accessibility of their educational environment.  Adapted PE Specialists are educators, and are trained in adapting physical education curriculum, as well as providing Adapted PE services. Physical Therapists are licensed medical professionals, trained to evaluate and treat individuals with impaired mobility and help to preserve, enhance, and restore movement and physical function.

Additional APE Information from the CDE  

Contact

Michael Duke, PT
Motor Team Lead
michael.duke@d49.org