La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § CI-1503

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section CI-1503 - Occupational Therapy

A. Definition. Occupational Therapy includes the following services:

1. evaluating students with disabilities by performing and interpreting tests and measurements and/or clinical observations of neurophysiological, musculoskeletal, sensorimotor functions and daily living skills;

2. planning and implementing treatment strategies for students based on evaluation findings;

3. improving, developing, restoring or maintaining functions impaired or lost through illness, injury, or deprivation;

4. improving or maintaining ability to perform tasks for independent functioning when functions are impaired or lost; and

5. administering and supervising therapeutic management of students with disabilities, recommending equipment and providing training to parents and educational personnel.

B. Criteria for Eligibility

1. Evidence of criteria listed in Subparagraphs a and b below must be met.

a. The student is classified and eligible for special education services. There is documented evidence that occupational therapy is required to assist the student to benefit from the special education services.

b. The student demonstrates a motor impairment in one of the following categories: Developmental, Motor Function, or Sensorimotor:

i. Developmental. Students (excluding those with neurophysiological impairments) who demonstrate a fine motor, visual motor, oral motor, or self help delay as follows:

(a). students with disabilities ages 3 year 0 months-5 years 6 months-students who demonstrate a fine motor, visual motor, oral motor, or self help delay greater than 1 standard deviation below functional abilities as measured by an appropriate assessment instrument. Some instruments yield a development age score instead of a standard score. In such cases, a student must demonstrate a delay of at least 6 months below functional abilities. Functional abilities are defined as the student's overall educational performance in the areas of cognition, communication, social, self help, and gross motor;

(b). students with disabilities ages 5 years 7 months-9 years 11 months-students who demonstrate a fine motor, visual motor, oral motor or self help delay greater than 1 standard deviation below functional abilities as measured by an appropriate assessment instrument. Some instruments yield a developmental age score instead of a standard score. In such cases, a student must demonstrate a delay of at least 12 months below functional abilities. Functional abilities are defined as the student's overall educational performance in the areas of cognition, communication, social, self help, and gross motor;

(c). students with disabilities ages 10 years 0 months-21 years-students who demonstrate a fine motor, visual motor, oral motor or self help delay greater than 1 standard deviation below functional abilities as measured by an appropriate assessment instrument. Some instruments yield a developmental age score instead of a standard score. In such cases, a student must demonstrate a delay of at least 18 months below functional abilities. Functional abilities are defined as the student's overall educational performance in the areas of cognition, communication, social, self help, and gross motor.

ii. Motor Function. According to clinical and/or behavioral observations (which may include, but are not limited to available current medical information, medical history and/or progress reports from previous therapeutic intervention), the student exhibits neurophysiological limitations or orthopedic limitations, that affect his or her physical functioning in the educational setting. These limitations might include abnormalities in the area(s) of fine motor, visual motor, oral motor, or self help skills. In addition to OT assessment, current student information must indicate one of the following abilities:

(a). an ability to improve motor functioning with occupational therapy intervention;

(b). an ability to maintain motor functioning with therapeutic intervention (if the student maintains motor functioning without therapeutic intervention, OT would not be required in the educational setting); or

(c). an ability to slow the rate of regression of motor functioning with therapeutic intervention (if the student has a progressive disorder).

iii. Sensorimotor. According to clinical behavior observation and/or an appropriate assessment instrument, the student exhibits an inability to integrate sensory stimulus effectively, affecting his or her capacity to perform functional activities within the educational setting. These activities might include abnormalities in the area of fine motor, visual motor, oral motor, self-help or sensory processing (sensory awareness, motor planning and organization of adaptive responses). In addition to OT assessment, current student information must indicate an ability to improve functional activity performance through OT intervention.

C. Procedures for Evaluation

1. The assessment shall be conducted by a licensed occupational therapist and shall include at a minimum the following procedures:

a. a review of available medical and educational information, environmental concerns, anecdotal records and observation of motor skills which document the specific concerns causing the referral;

b. an assessment of motor abilities.

2. For students ages 6 through 21, the assessment should be conducted in the educational environment.

3. The occupational therapist's assessment should be designed to answer the questions listed below.

a. Does this problem interfere with the student's ability to benefit from his or her educational program?

b. Is there a likely potential for change in the student's educational functioning if he/she receives therapeutic intervention?

4. The provision of services shall be determined at the IEP Team meeting, using the input of the occupational therapist and the results and recommendations of the therapy assessment. The continuation of services will be determined at the annual IEP review using input from the therapist.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § CI-1503

Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 35:920 (May 2009), effective July 1, 2009.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:1941 et seq.