Many students with learning disabilities have attention and sensory processing issues that can be assisted and improved by occupational therapy. Occupational therapy focuses on functioning in daily life. In the school, the focus is on attention and performance of skills in the classroom.
Occupational therapy (OT) has seen an increase in requests for service recently in the school setting. New York and California schools, for example, have witnessed a 30 percent increase, according to The New York Times. In Illinois, we have also seen an increase.
Educators have begun to realize the importance of the services offered by the therapist to assist a child in being ready to learn and remain on task. OT is typically used with students who receive special education services, however teachers who have learned the benefits of OT have begun to design their classroom to include sensory processing activities for the entire class.
This is important for students with learning disabilities, as this support is inclusive rather than requiring a pull-out service.
Why is OT increasing? We are raising our children in different ways than the past. We are seeing children being carried more than having opportunities to move on their own. These movements, as a baby, actually effect later strength to sit in a chair, write and attend.
OT needs are being seen in children with learning disabilities, as well as children who do not experience disabilities. Early experiences before school years affect school performance. People are starting to discuss these needs more, as we are noticing in the classroom that students are having difficulties.
More education is needed for the early experiences of children before they come to school. Reading at home is as important as having children move in many different ways to develop strong muscles before coming to school. This helps body and brain development.
Examples of sensory supports are visuals used in the classroom, structured routines and the kinds of movements used during transitions. All of these enhance students' attention.
A balance of supports through universal design is necessary for the many students in the classroom. Universal design for learning (UDL) is a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn.
A variety of OT options are made available to students, depending on the type of learner. For example, a typical student can sit in a chair, but other students need to sit on an exercise ball to attend. All students trying each of these seats to determine which helps attention to instruction is an example of UDL.
Structuring sensory supports ahead of time in a classroom is important. Teachers can include sensory supports before the need is present. Planning ahead includes providing the following simple materials in the classroom for all students:
- fidgets (hand tools that can be squeezed as needed)
- seat cushions, move and sits
- exercise balls
- bungee cords for the legs of chairs
- specialty scissors
- slant boards
- adapted paper and handwriting tools
- movement breaks (yoga and brain breaks provided on technology)
Teachers need to consider the importance of more movement in the classroom. There is less recess and fewer breaks as school has more educational expectations for students. Attention spans are actually shorter than most educators realize.
Attention spans can be determined by considering a child's age multiplied by 1-2 minutes. For example, a 7-year-old can be expected to sit for 7 to 14 minutes of instruction. In a second-grade classroom, students should not sit for more than 14 minutes at a time without having a stretch movement break. This will help children to continue to learn and attend.
OT is secured by using an RTI process. Teachers who find students that need sensory supports would need to try different supports one at a time, while taking data of behavior observed. After six weeks of this process, data can be used to determine if attention has improved.
If the data shows that no process has been made, then an OT would come into the classroom and suggest some different supports to try. Again data would be kept to look for improved attention.
An evaluation may be done after the RTI process to determine if OT needs to be attached to IEP services. Some students need OT for just a short amount of time, and some need it for longer, depending on the behavior needs.
Students learn to understand their own support needs by using an alert program. Occupational therapists teach students to determine if their own bodies are regulating high, low or just right. If they are high or low, then they need to have a sensory support.
The OT discusses with each student how their bodies feel when they are engaged in sensory supports. They learn to self-advocate for supports when they understand what helps their bodies to attend.
Education is essential for parents, teachers and students to best understand the student's own body and attention. Occupational therapy is one support that has become important in our changing educational environment.
