Here's my first question as a fairly new OT. I work in a day school with students with moderate to severe disabilities. The school focuses on life-skills rather than academics. And it seems the focus is to make the students more "marketable" to residential and workshop placements after graduation. With some of our higher functioning kids, they go to jobs as part of their school day. About half the kids I work with probably cannot hold a job of any sort. The other half may be able to if they get their behavior under control.
So, my question is what is my role as a school system therapist? I find myself doing more and more ranging and stretching to maintain range of motion so caretakers can continue to dress them and take care of toileting. But, I'm not seeing a whole lot of maintaining mostly because I'm only able to get in there 2-3 times a week to stretch them. And then I wonder, when does ranging purely for ranging become more PT'ish. Same with sensory stimulation. I've been working on switch use more for leisure, but I have kids with no cause and effect. So they are totally dependent on others for everything (self-care, leisure). I don't mean to sound cold-hearted, but when are they no longer appropriate for OT. And even if they are appropriate for out-patient OT, when are they no longer appropriate for school system OT? In my clinical background (during school), I never had to discharge anyone, so I'm really not sure if I'm giving up too early or if they are really inappropriate. Patty *********��*********** Unsubscribe? Send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message's *body*, put the following text: unsubscribe OTlist List messages are archived at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] *********��***********
