Occupational therapists in schools work with students who have physical, cognitive, or sensory impairments that affect their ability to participate in school activities. They assess students' needs, develop and implement individualized therapy plans, and provide direct therapy services to help students improve their functional skills and independence.

IDEA is the primary federal law that governs the provision of special education and related services, including occupational therapy, to students with disabilities in public schools.

Occupational therapists help students develop the skills they need to perform everyday tasks, such as eating, dressing, and writing. Physical therapists help students improve their mobility and range of motion.

Occupational therapists use a variety of interventions to help students improve their functional skills. These interventions may include sensory integration therapy, fine motor skill development activities, adaptive equipment training, and other individualized therapies.

The individualized occupational therapy plan is developed by a team of professionals, including the occupational therapist, the student's teacher, and the student's parents. The team works together to identify the student's needs and develop a plan to address those needs.

The individualized occupational therapy plan should be reviewed as needed, but at least annually. The team may need to review the plan more frequently if the student's needs change.

Parents play an important role in the school occupational therapy process. They can provide information about their child's needs and strengths, participate in the development and implementation of their child's individualized occupational therapy plan, and provide feedback on the effectiveness of their child's occupational therapy services.

Occupational therapists in schools face a number of challenges, including lack of time and resources, lack of understanding of occupational therapy by school staff and administrators, and difficulty collaborating with other professionals.

There are a number of ways to improve the effectiveness of occupational therapy services in schools, including increasing funding for occupational therapy services, providing more training for school staff and administrators on occupational therapy, and improving collaboration between occupational therapists and other professionals.

The future of occupational therapy in schools is bright. Occupational therapy is becoming more integrated into the school system, and occupational therapists are playing a more important role in helping students with disabilities succeed in school. Occupational therapy services are also becoming more individualized and focused on meeting the needs of each student.