What is the difference between school-based and clinic-based occupational therapy?

In schools, Amanda Prine, OTR/L, says she looks at what kinds of supports are already in place in classroom environments and curriculum — does the child need an accommodation, like extra time to get between classrooms or more time to complete assignment?

Clinic-based OTs look at sensory issues and the child’s “occupation” during play and as a family member, including skills such as riding a bike or playing sports. “Feeding skills, such as expanding types of foods the child will eat, would be worked on in a clinic, but not at school — even though nutrition is part of school, it’s not helping you access the curriculum,” Prine adds.

For more, see our article School-Based Vs. Clinic-Based Services.