PT/OT

As a school based practitioner, I understand the challenges and frustrations of acquiring adaptive equipment for students that will help bridge the gap between their capacity and performance. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) defines capacity as the student’s abilities in a situation apart from real life, such as during an evaluation in a quiet room with no...

1. Understand the requirements of federal law IDEA 2004. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that requires schools to meet the educational needs of students with disabilities. Funds for IDEA are allocated at federal, state, and local levels. To be eligible for the provisions of IDEA, the student must present with one of the following disabilities: intellectual disability...

Previously on our blog we shared a post about the use of Therabands with the TRAM from Linda Rusiecki, a physical therapist at Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids. In another post, Janette Tazzia and Linda Rusiecki tell about Janette’s recovery from a stroke. Now here’s a story of an individual impacted by a spinal cord injury who made remarkable gains with use of the Rifton E-Pacer in his...

Last week, Rifton offered a 30-minute webinar providing an introduction to the philosophy and practice of the MOVE Program: Mobility Opportunities Via Education/Experience. Under the MOVE program, teachers, clinicians, and parents join together to assess an individual's ability and then teach key motor skills incrementally. Everyone benefits. Watch the recording or read the transcript here. The webinar...

Physical therapy goals in the school-based practice setting can focus on a variety of areas, including: participation (student’s involvement in a life situation), activity (student’s execution of a task or action) and impairment (i.e. at the level of body structure and function.) For a number of reasons we find that student goals that address participation within the context of school routines...

In the summer we shared a blog post about the use of Therabands with the TRAM from Linda Rusiecki, a physical therapist at the Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids. Watch Janette Tazzia and Linda Rusiecki tell about Janette’s recovery from a stroke that left her partially paralyzed.

At Desert Mountain SELPA in Apple Valley, California, we’ve discovered a creative solution for seated transfers with the TRAM. This method works really well, particularly for the more profoundly involved kids. Using the standard approach shown in the TRAM Quick Reference Guide (with a thigh strap placed separately under each leg) often results in the body support system riding up the student’s...

While many in the therapy community have not heard (yet) about SATCo, it’s a valuable new assessment that looks at trunk control. SATCo stands for Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control and it is a specific method of determining the level at which an individual loses postural control. We speak of “segmental assessment” because during evaluation we progressively change the level of trunk support at seven distinct levels.

According to the National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study, only 4% of infants and toddlers receiving early intervention services have assistive technology and AT services listed on their Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP.) ¹ No, that was not a typo. Only 4%. Think about what that means for the three-and-under children with disabilities you know. The Individuals with Disabilities Education...

Recently, Rifton hosted a 2-part webinar on adaptive seating. Part 1: Sitting for Participation: What Does the Research Say? This 30-minute webinar provides an overview of available research on adaptive seating as an intervention in pediatric practice. I summarize research evidence on adaptive seating outcomes including impact on postural control, the use of upper extremities while seated, and head...