The school-based physical therapist promotes motor development and the student’s participation in everyday routines and activities that are part of his/her educational program. The PT designs and performs therapeutic interventions including compensation, remediation, and prevention strategies and adaptations, focusing on functional mobility and safe, efficient access and participation in educational activities and routines in natural learning environments.

Benefits to Student Instruction

• Participates in IEP and 504 process 
• Gathering appropriate information from parents, students and IEP team members regarding the child’s functional motor performance in the school setting 
• Selecting, administering and interpreting a variety of screening instruments and standardized measuring tools 
• Designing and implementing physical therapy interventions that allow students to benefit from their educational program 
• Measuring and documenting student progress resulting from the designed physical therapy interventions 
• Teaching and training family members and educational personnel in an effort to help the student achieve his/her IEP goals 
• Functioning as a consultant to other school personnel, families and students to coordinate the delivery of physical therapy services which may include: interpretation of assessments and recommendations; explanation of the potential impact of developmental, medical, and/or sensory-motor impairments on educational performance; instruction of caregivers regarding the physical management of students such as safe lifting, positioning, assisted ambulation, gross motor programs, vocational tasks, leisure activities, and/or equipment use; setting realistic expectations for student performance in school. 
• Selecting, modifying or customizing adaptive equipment and assistive technology 
• Adapting of environments to facilitate student access and participation in the educational environment   
• Supporting the safe transportation of students 
• Serving as a liaison among school, medical personnel, and medical equipment vendors