Occupational Therapy and Special Education Rights 10/08/2020
BreakingAutism.com

Hosts: Sabrina Shafer,Judy Ruffulo, Dr. Angie Harisiadis

Strategies for advocating for those with OT needs as a parent and teacher. 

Sensory tools, sensory integration, behavioral assessements, visual motor, fine & gross motor needs, postural assessment and tools, and assistive technology needs (dictation software), taking a sensory break. 

OT should be a part of an evaluation for IEP. One of the requirements under IDEA, as well as OT, should be designed to meet unique needs of the child, and designed to prepare the child for futher education, employment, and individual living.

Most parents and educators feel that goals should be written in benchmarks, but they should be a broad fine-motor goal with objectives (writing component, zipping/buttoning component, and other components). If benchmarked they should be cumulative assessments. The student has to maintain the skill and continute it, not just move on to a new goal/objective and leave the others alone after they're done.

If the district refuses to write an IEP goal:
1. Ask again in writing
2. You're entitled to prior written notice; An explination of why they didn't do as asked and provide data on their reasoning. Challenge their response of "No".
3. Keep your own data, as a parent, to use as leverage. Take a video to share. Get private evaluations from private team members. You can bring anyone you want as an advocate to an IEP team meeting. Make sure you have a good set of knowledge and know your legal rights.

Make sure you're evaluating the right tests and sub-parts in that evaluation. Having an OT at an eligability evaluation is important. There may be a behavior intervention plan, as well. You cannot have a good plan without proper behavior assessment.