What is the  Difference between Physical and Occupational  Therapy
                     What is the  
Difference between 
Physical and 
Occupational  
Therapy?
Special and general educators carry 
many  roles, including observing child 
development f rom many different 
perspectives. A teacher may  refer a   
student for a  speech evaluation,  
cognitive testing, or a  behavior 
assessment. While these performance 
areas seem distinct, teachers are 
often uncertain if they should refer a  
child for physical or occupational 
therapy since there is sometimes 
overlap between the two professions.
Overview
Both occupational and physical therapists are licensed professionals who graduated from an 
accredited program (occupat ional therapy is an entry-level master’s or doctorate, and physical 
therapy is a  doctoral-level  degree). In a  school setting, occupational  and physical therapy are added 
to a  qualifying child’s plan to support their educational outcomes. For example, suppose a  child has an 
abnormal  gait  pattern but  can still navigate their classroom environment safely and efficiently. In that 
case, they may  not qualify for school-based physical therapy.
Note: If a  student’s occupational  or physical therapy needs do not involve their abil ity to access their 
education, they may  be a  better candidate for outpatient therapy.
What is Physical Balance: Navigating the classroom 
without falling.
Therapy? Mobility: Climbing the stairs safely.
A physical therapist (PT) evaluates and  Strength: Having the postural control to 
treats a  student’s physical motor skills. After  maintain a  sitting posture at  the desk or 
evaluation, a  physical therapist creates a   floor.
plan of care and works with students to  
improve motor skills. A physical therapist  
may  recommend adaptive equipment to  Stability: Stabilizing the core body and 
enhance students’ ability to access their  joints so the child can kick a  ball (h ip  
motor skills in the classroom. Examples of  jo int)  or cut with scissors (shoulder joint).
physical therapy intervention may  include:
An occupational therapist (OT) also evaluates and treats 
What is students, but  instead of focusing on physical motor skills, they support part icipation in meaningful activities. During the 
Occupational school day, activities might  include lessons, lunch, social participation, transitions, specials, and more. An OT creates 
an intervention plan to build student skills, change the 
Therapy? activity, or modify the environment for successful student 
participation.  Some examples of occupational  therapy 
intervention include:
Handwriting Sensory Holding a Dressing
processing pencil
Using visual motor Integrating all of the Using visual motor Independently dressing 
skills to use lines to sensory information  skills to use lines for classroom 
create letters and in a  classroom in a   to  create letters transitions, including 
align the letters on way that is adaptive and  aligning the recess or toileting.
the baseline. and doesn’t inhibit letters  on the 
their participation. baseline.
Contact  
Informatio
nGet in touch with us:
Phone Number
978-681-6605
Email Address
[email protected]
Website
kiokocenter.com