But my child receives services at school…why do they need clinic services too?

Many parents feel that because their child is receiving occupational therapy at school, they don’t need clinic based or outpatient services. School based therapy is designed specifically for the needs of the child within the realm of the educational setting. A school OT’s focus is solely on the independence of the child within the classroom with little ability to address underlying deficits due to limited time restraints, materials, and availability. If a child is receiving school-based OT, there is almost always some underlying issues that are causing these areas of concern. That is where clinic-based OT comes in to play! In the clinic, the child is treated on an individual bases where we can better assess and treat the issues that are causing the disabilities within the classroom. Sensory Processing, bilateral coordination, visual perceptual skills, social/emotional regulation are just a few of the underlying deficits that are found in children that can be hard to address in the school setting. Time restraints placed on school therapist are also problematic when trying to give each child the personal treatment they deserve. Activities of daily living is also an area that is hard to address within the educational setting due to the need for privacy when learning how to develop independence in dressing, bathing, grooming, toileting, or feeding. Most children receive 15-30 minutes of treatment a week which is not nearly enough time to get to the root of the problem. In clinic-based therapy, children are seen for 1 hour 1-2x/week in a space that is catered to their individual needs. Will you give it a try to see how your child can climb to New Heights in outpatient OT services?