Looking to update your school-based OT treatment planning game? While intervention planning can be one of the most fun parts of our job, it can also take up a huge amount of time! If you’re looking for new resources to get you out of a rut or just some of the most tried and true, here are some treatment planning resources that school-based OTs should consider.
Before we go over some of the best online resources for intervention activities, I should caveat this with the fact that your treatment planning ideally looks a little different in the schools compared to other pediatric settings. Ultimately, school-based OTs should be pushing into classrooms and upholding the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). This means that you might not get as many opportunities to complete Pinterest-worthy crafts, and will instead be spending time modifying and accommodating classroom assignments that your student is already working on. Or, you’ll be trying to catch natural opportunities to work on life skills like clothing fasteners, self-feeding, and toileting. In any case, it can be especially helpful to have co-planning time with teachers so that you can ensure you are both working collaboratively towards your students’ goals.
But in any case, having some backup interventions available isn’t a bad idea. You may find yourself in a situation where you need to provide treatment plans to a sub OT, or you may find your regular push-in schedule disrupted. Some of these activities and resources are also a great fit for running centers or co-teaching a whole class lesson, which is also a valuable way to deliver push-in services or RtI.
So don’t hesitate to have some of these resources up your sleeve, just keep in mind that you should always be seeking to shift your practice to contextual services that uphold the LRE – and often that means that typical, craft-based treatment planning isn’t necessary in the schools.