Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy Services

Physiotherapists and occupational therapists provide services for students who have difficulty functioning physically at school.

A student may need these services if he or she:

• has awkward movements and is often bumping into things;
• has an unusual walking or running pattern;
• has poor strength compared to his or her peers;
• has difficulty sitting upright;
• is not skilled with either hand;
• has trouble handling small items such as pencils, scissors, buttons, zippers and laces; or
• has other physical, sensory, gross or fine motor difficulties that affect learning at school.

How can students receive these services?

If parents or teachers notice that a student is having trouble functioning physically at school, the student may be referred to the School Based Team.

The team includes the student's teachers, a school administrator, a learning assistance teacher and a school counsellor. It may also include the parents, the student (where appropriate), other consultants from the Department of Education and representatives from community services.

The team focuses on strategies to meet the student's needs at school.

As part of this work, it may refer the student to a physiotherapist or occupational therapist.

These professionals are concerned with helping students get the most out of their educational experiences.

Physiotherapists

Physiotherapists focus on helping students move around their classroom, gym and playground.

Occupational therapists

Occupational therapists focus on helping students with their fine motor skills - for example: printing, using classroom tools (scissors, pencil sharpeners, for example), completing self care skills such as feeding, dressing, and opening containers.

Assessment

To learn what a student needs to function at school, physiotherapists and occupational therapists may:

• review the student's relevant records;
• interview teachers, parents or others;
• observe and assess how the student performs in the school setting; and
• complete one on one assessments of the student using standardized tests, as appropriate.

Therapists may take several approaches to helping the student.

These include recommending:

• classroom strategies for the student's teacher to help meet the student's physical or sensory needs;
• activities that can be done one-on-one with the student at home or at school;
• changes to the student's environment; and
• tools and equipment that will help the student -- orthotics, walking aides, braces, wheelchairs, alternative computer access, software, hand splints, pencil grips, positioning equipment and exercise equipment, for example.

For more information:

Special Programs Division
Department of Education
Phone: (867) 667-8000
Toll Free: 1-800-661-0408
shirley.loo@gov.yk.ca

Special Programs
Department of Education
Government of Yukon
Box 2703
Whitehorse, Yukon
Canada Y1A 2C6

Phone: (867) 667-8000
Toll free (In Yukon):
1-800-661-0408, local 8000
Fax: (867) 393-6423

shirley.loo@gov.yk.ca