School-based OT
Management Plan
By: Ashley Shaw
Table of Contents
Definition of OT
Importance of School-Based OT
Classroom Environment
Student Check Off List
Procedures and Routines
Encourage Play
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy (OT) helps people do the things they want
and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities. It
enables people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them
promote health, and prevent – or live better with – injury, illness,
or disability. (The American Occupational Therapy Association)
Importance of School-based OT
School-based OT is important for students who may not have
proficient fine or visual motor skills. OT works with students to
help them develop these skills. OT also works with students who
may have special needs or just need extra help in class with
organization, socialization, etc.
Classroom Environment
For kids with Autism, ADHD, ADD, hypersensitivity, etc.
Classroom environments can sometimes overwhelm these kids and
cause them to be distracted or disruptive. However, there are many
ways to turn classrooms into a more comfortable calming
environment, that encourages classroom curtesy.
How to create a calm environment:
o Avoid having too much noise/talking. Make sure all students
are using a respectful inside voice and keep any videos,
movies, music, etc. to an appropriate volume.
o Avoid having too much bright light. For kids who are
hypersensitive, bright light
can be irritating and can
result in headaches.
o Have a designated space for
kids to socialize and be
active. For young kids with
ADD or ADHD, sitting at a
desk all day is hard.
Therefore, incorporating a
designated space to engage
in play is necessary.
Student Check Off List
It is important to ask students how they are feeling before school
starts. Mornings can be rough for any child. Maybe they didn’t get
much sleep the night before, or maybe they feel overstimulated.
This will impact how students sit through class, how they
participate in class activities, and how they socialize with their
peers. All of this plays an important role in academic success. By
creating a check off list for these students, they will be set up for
success early on in the day rather than starting off on a bad note
which may interfere with their learning. A check off list will help
the student feel prepared and ready to learn and gives the teacher
an idea of how the student feels.
Check off lists can include:
o Do you have all your books and class assignments?
o Do you have a proper writing utensil?
o Is your desk cleared off?
Procedures and Routines
Often times kids with autism do not like change. Therefore, having
a routine is important. It allows students to be prepared for what’s
going to happen next and allows little chance of any surprises
happening.
Routines can include:
o Scheduled times for each subject/class.
o Scheduled Lunch time
o Scheduled Recess
o Scheduled Breaks
Scheduled breaks are important for kids who may have trouble
sitting for long periods of time, difficulty paying attention for
extended period or who are
easily overstimulated. Breaks
provide a time for kids to get
their energy out, rest their minds,
and gives some kids time to put
on noise canceling headphones
or sit alone and desensitize.
Encourage Play
Play is an important part of a kid’s daily life. It encourages
creativity, socialization, as well as develop fine and visual
motor skills. By playing with Lego blocks, doll accessories, and
board games, kids are using motor skills. For children who are
working to improve fine motor skills, this is an excellent way to
work on these skills. These tools can be used during recess,
breaks, and even in class activities.
