School Age Therapy

Therapists will provide direct service to children who meet the schools designation of Low Incidence criteria and one of the following criteria:

• Students with pervasive feeding issues that may put them at risk for choking/aspiration.
• Students in need of equipment to minimize deformity and or in areas of self-care/productivity.
• Students whose physical condition or functional performance is at risk for deterioration (i.e.: those students with a degenerative disease process)
• Students with acute health care needs that require rehabilitation (e.g.: head injury, stroke, post trauma, post surgical)
• Students requiring a prescription of augmentative devices that would ensure maximum performance in school.
• Students requiring transfers and positioning.
• Accessibility issues within the physical environment of the school aimed at consult/education to team members.

Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy Criteria Guidelines

The School Age Therapy Program was developed through a joint inter ministerial protocol and is a jointly funded program by the Ministry of Children and Family Development and School District #68. This program was established to serve school aged children with special needs who require individualized plans. The School Age Therapy program consists of 10.5 hours per week of Physiotherapy, 35 hours a week of Occupational Therapy and 7 hours a week of non client specific service to the entire school district. This program provides services to the geographical areas of Lantzville, Nanaimo and Ladysmith.

Setting priorities and service delivery patterns require factual data and clinical judgment and may differ between therapies. Prioritization will enable fair and equitable service. Individual service delivery will change on an ongoing basis; in line with a student's level of performance or independence.

• Request from parent to the teacher.
• Referral from teacher or school based team.
• Direct referral from the parent
• For further information, contact the Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy Department at the Child Development Centre. @ 753-0251.