My purpose was to advovate for the expansion of OTPs role in multi-tiered services in the school-based setting under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Student Name: Sarah Rhoads OTD
Name of Mentor(s): Melissa Redington OTR/L and Laura Peregoy OTR/L
School: Washington University School of Medicine
Setting and Location: Large, public school-based setting and private outpatient pediatric practice in St. Louis, MO, and Sullivan, MO
Format: Hybrid
Method/Design/Approach: I conducted a Needs Assessment to identify:
- OTPs current level of involvement in multi-tiered services
- barriers and enablers to facilitate that involvement
- the need for multi-tiered services from the perspective of OTPs and teachers
Results/Outcomes: The survey delivered as part of the Needs Assessment found that over 90% of OTPs at the school district were interested in providing more multi-tiered supports. Barriers frequently reported include: limited time in schedule, high number of IEP minutes to meet each week, and limited understanding of OTPs role. Over 80% of the teacher respondents indicated they are willing to work with an OTP on a Tier One and Two intervention to address common classroom needs, including self-regulation, functional communication, and executive function skills.
Conclusions: OTPs role in multi-tiered services is evidence-based, best practice, and within the law.
Ideas for next steps to build on this topic: Some ideas for future steps include: implementing a Tier One or Two program at a school district and measuring pre/post outcomes, contributing to current evidence-based literature, increasing OTPs and other professionals’ knowledge of ESSA and its implications, and seeking out opportunities to collaborate with school-based administration on expanding OTPs role within the school district.
2-3 tips for students undertaking a similar project:
1.) I would recommend researching the legislation and policy that affects school-based practice beforehand to gain a better understand of the affects of policies on OTPs role in the school-based setting.
2.) I would also join the ESSA OT Advocacy Network organized by Dr. Susan Bazyk.
Deliverables (link when applicable):
My e-portolfio can be found at this link.
The Google Drive containing resources for school-based OTPs can be found here. This Drive contains pre-made presentations that can be used for educating administration and others on our full scope, pre-made Tier One and Two intervention ideas for early childhood-1st grade, and other resources.
I want to see if she wants help making this list more accessible 
! It is such an important topic!