REFERRAL PROCESS

A student may be referred for an occupational therapy evaluation by parents, teachers, or other TEAM members. The first step in the process might be either an occupational therapy screening, or a referral to the Early Intervention Team (EIT) or Response to Intervention Team (RTI).  

If your child is not enrolled in the Shrewsbury Public Schools (e.g. a child between the ages of three and five, or a child who is currently attending a private school), you must first contact the school department to register your child (508 841-8400). Based on your address, you will be directed to the school where your child will be seen.  

A screening may consist of a classroom observation, analysis of classroom work samples, or administration of a formal or informal screening tool.  A screening is used to determine if a full occupational therapy evaluation is warranted. Screening results may also be used to guide classroom strategies or home programs. Examples of this might be handwriting practice worksheets used at home or sensory strategies to assist a child in following classroom routines.  

EIT (Early Intervening Team) or RTI (Response to Intervention) is  a regular education initiative which is used to provide teachers and educational staff with strategies to support student learning. The TEAM members decide upon a goal area and generate an intervention plan that can be implemented in the classroom setting. A time frame is determined, and data is collected on student performance in their goal area over the prescribed amount of time (e.g. 6 weeks). If sufficient progress is not noted, the intervention strategies and/or plan may be revised or an evaluation may be recommended. 

When it is deemed necessary, parent consent is obtained and a full occupational therapy evaluation is conducted. Occupational therapists use standardized and non-standardized assessments and clinical observations to provide information to help determine eligibility as a TEAM. Test instruments are selected to assess the area of concern. Once eligibility is established, the occupational therapist works with other members of the TEAM (including parents) to determine what is needed for a student to receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE).  An individualized education plan (IEP) is written to outline goal areas, objectives, accommodations/modifications, and service delivery.