Physical Therapist

What can your Physical Therapist do?

Fundamental movement skills are critical to a student’s meaningful participation with peers in daily routines, such as gym time, recess, movement breaks, and other movement opportunities. With physical literacy as a growing focus for many schools in the district, these team members can provide recommendations on how to adapt activities, the environment or the teaching approach to ensure all students are able to participate meaningfully.

Using their specialized focus, the Physical Therapist supports teachers with students who have severe gross motor needs and thus require additional strategies, adaptations to the environment or equipment to be successful in accessing the curriculum. They work in close collaboration with Occupational Therapists to support school initiatives for physical literacy.

For students with severe physical, medical or neurological disabilities, the Physical Therapist can coach teaching staff on individualized strategies. This may include facilitated stretching exercises, safe lifts and transfers, proper use of mobility/transfer equipment, and problem-solving accessibility in the school and community. They also support parents at clinical appointments or when trialing equipment with a vendor. 

All of these strategies promote inclusion in all learning activities.