Physical therapists in schools have a special skill set. They spend years learning how to tailor their approaches to the very specific needs of the students they serve.
We asked our team of PTs at Kelly Pediatric Therapy to share their experiences so others can learn from them.
What are your favorite activities to do with students during sessions.
- I love incorporating core and hip strengthening into fun ball play. An example of this is passing ball toss while in a tall kneeling or half kneeling position.
- Bean bags on belly sit ups, big ball kicks, dinosaurs on your feet -slow lift and lower.
- Obstacle courses! You can address balance, strength and coordination with uneven surfaces and motor planning challenges.
What skills do you feel you address most frequently in your PT sessions?
- Balance, core strength, stair navigation
- Balance - reaching outside base of support, jumping with bilateral takeoff and landing
- Coordination - ball skills, crossing midline and jumping jacks
- Strengthening - core strength with sit ups, plank, superhero
What do you feel is your most important role in the schools?
- Promoting a student’s participation.
- Flexibility and support with students, teachers, and specialists to allow everyone to get what they need done.
- Facilitating access to a student’s educational environment. Also, being the bridge between the student’s medical history and school team and translating that into functional mobility goals.
- Training and educating staff and aides; providing the right equipment for the student to learn and grow.
Is there something that you do that you didn’t expect to be part of the role of a PT in the school systems?
- My caseload is mostly MDS. I help students with personal hygiene and train the staff on how to assist them with personal care needs. We work on transfers to adaptive toileting seats, transfers to changing tables, etc. A lot of this involves training the staff on appropriate body mechanics.
- We do crafting /creativity imbedded into my gross motor plans. I love it and kids love it.
- I find I facilitate a lot of equipment ordering. Bridging the gap between their medical team and school team can lead to better outcomes for the student at both home and school. Also, often teachers and aides change year to year, and we as related service providers are the constant for the student. I find I do a lot of training and education initially with the IEP teams and staff.
We're here to help you make a difference.
You became a physical therapist to make a difference, and at Kelly Pediatric Therapy, we're here to help you move your career forward.
We'd love to talk with you about how we place PTs in schools and how we can help you begin providing students with the support they need to succeed in and out of the classroom. Learn more about our current staffing opportunities.