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Related Services

Occupational and Physical Therapy services are considered related services in special education. Occupational Therapists (OT’s) and Physical Therapists (PT’s) use activity and adaptations to facilitate a student’s independent function within the school setting and reduce the impact of a handicapping condition or known area of weakness in the student’s ability to participate in the educational process.

What are the differences between educational and medical models for OT and PT services?

It can be confusing trying to determine what is educationally-based versus medically base occupational and physical therapy.  The two tables below can assist with understanding the difference between the two types.

Educational Model

  • Academic team (parents, teachers, related service providers, special educators, etc) request initiates a referral or evaluation process based on specific questions as to how a set of challenges are impacting a student’s engagement at school.
  • To receive school-based services, a student must qualify for an IEP or have 504 accommodations.
  • No prescription from a doctor is needed.
  • Team agrees on goals and collaboratively receives recommendations from therapist as to how services will support IEP goals or 504 needs.
  • Cost of therapy is free and included as part of services offered in an IEP.
  • Therapy focuses on how to increase ability to learn, participate and function as independently as possible within the learning environment.
  • Treatment happens within the school day, preferably with peers and in the classroom as often as possible.
  • Age ranges between 3 and 21 years.
  • Documentation is framed within the requirements of the state for an IEP or 504 student.
  • Discharge is based on progress in IEP goals and is agreed upon by the team as a whole based on therapist recommendations.

Medical Model

  • A medical diagnosis and prescription from a doctor lead to a discipline specific evaluation.
  • Therapist will set goal(s) and length of services needed to meet or make
  • Treatment sessions are billed through insurance and may have fees which family needs to pay out of pocket based on their insurance plans.
  • Therapy focuses on treatment to alleviate or cure a set of symptoms/pathologies.
  • Therapy can happen at a clinic or at home (if under age 18) outside of school hours.
  • Any age range possible for treatment.
  • Documentation focuses on medical needs and follows the structure that insurance requires.
  • Discharge is based on progress and/or insurance guidelines/constraints