Designed for high school students interested in careers in special education and related services, this leaflet outlines the role of the physical therapist. It addresses the nature of the work, the education required, personal qualities that physical therapists should have, job outlook and advancement, and how to prepare for a career as a physical…

These four selected bibliographies list recommended readings concerning: minority personnel in special education (supply and demand), teacher testing and minorities, physical therapy and occupational therapy, and alternative certification. References date from 1984 through 1991 and are listed alphabetically by author within each bibliography. ERIC…

This document provides general guidelines to promote consistency of occupational therapy and physical therapy service delivery in the Texas educational system. These guidelines are intended to clarify the roles of occupational therapy and physical therapy as related special education services. The guidelines cover: (1) differences between the…

Discusses issues in personnel training practices for paraprofessionals providing related services in early intervention and education settings. The term paratherapist is used to refer to paraprofessionals working under the supervision of professionals in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology. Presents a philosophy…

A survey of 775 early childhood intervention professionals examined their perceptions toward the integration of special services into regular classrooms. Results showed that special educators were most likely to use and favor integrated services, followed by occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, and physical therapists.…

This paper synthesizes information about shortages among the professions working with young children with disabilities, birth through age 5, and their families. The paper begins with a look at national data on personnel working in early intervention and preschool special education. Distinctions between the work force in early intervention (Part H…

This issue of "Special Parent/Special Child" describes the role of occupational and physical therapy in maximizing the potential of special needs children. Physical and occupational therapy are defined and the training and functions of therapists in each area are outlined. Also discussed are the goals of therapy programs in developing gross and…

Discusses the transferring of Medicaid recipients to managed care in Oregon and the effects on physical therapy and occupational therapy services for children with disabilities. Describes a process that balances fiscally responsible utilization of therapy resources with advocacy for appropriate therapy services. Guidelines for services are…

A 1982-83 manual on school-based occupational therapy and physical therapy (OT/PT) services in Texas is presented. Contents include: guidelines, evaluation forms, student and therapists' documentation forms, and policy/procedures manuals for a suburban independent school district and a rural independent school district. Part I provides the…

This book deals with the promotion of body awareness through use of educational gymnastics, with handicapped or non-handicapped but poorly coordinated children of all age levels. The method provides an analytical approach to movement, encourages children to listen to language, and assists them in creating their own activities. The activities and…

This article describes new approaches to providing physical and occupational therapy intervention services in naturalistic early childhood settings and reviews the limited body of literature examining their efficacy. It offers assessment and intervention strategies that support a normalized approach to intervention and offers suggestions for…

This article explores how providing early intervention in natural environments reinforces family-centered care, discusses benefits for all parties when therapy is provided within daily routines and settings, describes a decision-making process for embedding natural environments within intervention, and concludes by identifying challenges and…

Project TIE (Teams in Early Intervention) was conceptualized to meet the need for: (1) involvement of formerly "ancillary" service professionals in early intervention for children with disabilities, (2) high quality family-centered services, and (3) training in the team approach. The project provides training to four groups that might constitute…

This document extracts information from two studies conducted by the Institute for the Study of Exceptional Children and Youth at the University of Maryland. The studies dealt with personnel shortages in special education and related services. The first study, by J. Smith-Davis, P. J. Burke, and M. M. Noel, gathered data for 1982-83. It reported…

The manual describes policies relating to the roles and contributions to special education of occupational and physical therapists. Following a summary of certification requirements, the therapists' roles in a school setting are examined. Conceptual roles are outlined for decision making, program management, liaison, support/resource/consultation,…