And the GOOD NEWS is that you don’t have to do it alone, I am here to HELP you!
When it comes to school-based occupational therapy, it’s rare to find a talented pediatric OT, in the right geographic area, at the right salary – and who has experience with the specific nuances of providing occupational therapy in the schools.
You could spend a lot of time looking, and meanwhile...
● Students are waiting for services
● Teachers are asking for support
● Parents are looking for answers
And getting an OT hired and up to speed is just one of your many responsibilities.
So you might feel reluctant to hire that candidate without school experience. Because you know all-too-well the challenges of working in the school system:
● The laws
● Managing a large and diverse caseload independently
● No room for mistakes
Ultimately, you want someone who can hit the ground running because you don’t have the time or knowledge to fully train them. So you keep looking for that perfect candidate who doesn’t need training.
But as long as you can only pick from OTs with school-based experience, your hiring pool will be very limited.
You could spend a lot of time looking, and meanwhile...
● Students are waiting for services
● Teachers are asking for support
● Parents are looking for answers
And getting an OT hired and up to speed is just one of your many responsibilities.
So you might feel reluctant to hire that candidate without school experience. Because you know all-too-well the challenges of working in the school system:
● The laws
● Managing a large and diverse caseload independently
● No room for mistakes
Ultimately, you want someone who can hit the ground running because you don’t have the time or knowledge to fully train them. So you keep looking for that perfect candidate who doesn’t need training.
But as long as you can only pick from OTs with school-based experience, your hiring pool will be very limited.
I, like many therapists, was thrown into the school-based setting years ago with no support, training, or mentoring in place. Unfortunately, this happens way too often.
Truth is, school systems have their own unique expectations and challenges, much of which is not covered in OT educational programs or other practice settings.
Between IEPs, scheduling, running groups, and learning educational-based goal setting, your OT has a lot to learn to feel confident.
And from experience, I’ve found it takes numerous hours just to figure out the logistics of school-based OT – and I still felt uninformed and incompetent.
And I hated that feeling! And so does any therapist working for you.
The underlying problem is lack of resources and school-specific training for OTs. School staff and school administers just don’t have the time OR the knowledge to provide this type of mentoring.
So many school-based OTs struggle to figure it out alone.
This leads to:
● Burn out
● Mistakes
● Fewer students receiving services
● Staff turnover
● Legal implications
You want your OT to be clear on the nuances specific to school-based OT. So instead of struggling to stay afloat, they can jump right in – helping students, keeping families and school staff happy, plus meeting laws and regulations.
That's the reason I am here to support your OT – so that the school system gets an OT who is amazing at their job.
Why reinvent the wheel when I’ve already done the work?
In this course, I share my years of experience as a school-based OT – plus the tools, resources, and templates I curated over time. With these tools, I set your OT up for success with everything they need, all in one place.
Instead of spending hours creating their own systems and processes, they take my tools to get started doing what they love – providing outstanding OT services and contributing as a valued IEP team member.
Ready to get started?
YES! Also qualifies for continuing education requirements.
Therapists earn 0.6 CEUs for the Self Study version or 1.15 CEUs for the Impact version!
*CEUs awarded will be adjusted for customized packages.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, your OT will feel confident and competent to:
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Identify and recall abbreviations and terminology used in the school-based environment related to report writing, navigating systems, and state laws.
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Apply knowledge of laws and regulations that govern special education and school based OT practice.
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Create systems and processes to streamline workload management unique to the school setting using templates shared in the course.
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Demonstrate detailed knowledge of the IEP process, roles of different IEP team members, contents of the IEP document and types of IEP team meetings.
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Recognize and compare differences between school based OT and medical based OT.
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Demonstrate understanding of the role of occupational therapy in the school, formulate goals and treatment objectives accordingly, and share that knowledge with different members of the interdisciplinary team.
What others are saying
Invaluable as I made the transition
"Ushma's help was invaluable as I made the transition from working in skilled nursing to school-based OT. I had never worked in a school setting before and she guided me through everything from assessments to treatment ideas to supporting families through consultation. Her confidence and vast knowledge as an OT made me feel at ease in making the switch in my career and I've never looked back. I love working in schools and credit Ushma with helping me discover what I'm meant to do."
Her compassion and competence are inspiring...
"Ushma's resources and mentoring has been crucial for me when transitioning from clinical to school-based OT practice. Her insights and knowledge have helped me immensely with the transition. Not only did she provide me with a detailed guide of what to expect during the first days, but also an organized binder with useful information, valuable resources and print-outs that made the transition so much easier. Ushma has been an exceptional mentor to me. Her compassion and competence are inspiring and helpful to anyone who crosses paths with her."
Organized, easy to follow & very detailed
Ushma’s course has greatly increased my confidence in feeling that I can truly be a successful school-based OT. It is organized in an easy-to-follow format, yet at the same time is very detailed with information on various topics I thought I had previously understood but realized I knew very little about. Ushma always provides thorough and insightful responses to any questions you may have. This course will definitely leave you feeling ready to begin a career in school-based OT. Overall, I am very thankful to have come across this affordable course at the start of my OT career!
If you are a newer school OT this course is everything!
Oh my world! I just finished this course and I cannot believe how amazing it is! It is packed with resources, templates (you should get the templates!), tip, tricks, guidance, do/don'ts and so much more! If you are a newer school OT this course is everything! Go for it! :) Thank you beyond words!
Audience can best understand or relate to their own experiences
I would highly recommend this course to new or seasoned therapists who need a refresher or new strategies/ ideas and to any OT student looking to work in pediatrics/ school-based OT or have a level II fieldwork in the area. I learned a lot more about the RTI process, timelines, and how to stay best organized while managing a caseload that can be high. Ushma really provided a way to break down the areas of working in the school systems so that her audience can best understand or relate to their own experiences.
Thank you!
Online Course Content
Self paced pre-recorded videos and downloadable slides
With tons of practical resources for daily use as a school OT!!!
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Module 1: School Based OT and Laws that Govern it
Module one digs deep into the world of school-based OT and the laws
that govern it. Here, we give foundational knowledge for school OT
and the unique role of OT in the schools. Next, we cover the laws your
school OT needs to know. Plus FAQs and real-world scenarios so they
can hit the ground running, feeling informed and empowered. -
Module 2: IEP and 504 Plan
We go in depth to understand the nitty gritty logistics of IEPs,
504s, and those pivotal meetings. We cover: what’s an IEP and
types of meetings, team members and roles, preschool
assessments, collaborating with parents, and what to expect during
a meeting. We cover all the basics of 504 plans, Individualized Family
Plans, and IEP Transition plans. Replacing overwhelm with practical
knowledge, we cover FAQs and real situations so they know how to
apply all the information. -
Module 3: Testing and Goal writing
Screening, evaluation, and documentation provide the foundation
for much of the work of your OT. Make sure it gets done right.
In this module we cover screening (and what to do next),
standardized tests for schools, the use of skilled observation, and
independent education evaluation. Put it all together with our
school-specific tips for goal writing and documentation.
As always, knowledge is put to action with FAQs and
real-world scenarios. -
Module 4 : Scope of Practice as a School-based OT
In module 4, we take the daily work as a school-based therapist to
the next level. We cover frames of reference, interventions, and
performance areas addressed in schools. We give tools to think
comprehensively in regards to OT interventions and become a
knowledgeable advocate for what school OT should and should
not address.
It's an INVESTMENT not only in your OT, but for each student and teacher that the OT supports.
The course fits the needs of your OT if they:
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Are seeking a mentor
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Are new to providing OT in the school system
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Want clarity on the processes and systems for school OT
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Need access to tried and tested templates to make caseload management easier
This course is not for those:
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Practicing as a school-based OT for years
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With all needed resources and mentorship
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With essential systems already set up and running efficiently
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With underlying personal or performance problems beyond not understanding the school setting.
It’s way easier — and saves so much heartache — to INVEST in your staff rather than IGNORING the underlying lack of knowledge leading to burnout, turnover, and low performance.
Help your OT go from feeling Uncertain and Fearful, to Confident and Thriving….
Frequently Ask Questions
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I’m a therapist new to school OT and I want to buy this course for myself, am I in the right place?
Opps! Nope, if you’re buying this course for yourself, head over to bit.ly/schoolOT to find the right information.
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I own a clinic and want my pediatric therapist to be able to cover some additional school contracts, would this course help me do this?
Yes! Many fantastic pediatric therapists shy away from work in the schools because the laws and process feel so foreign (and maybe scary). For this reason, my course content is targeted to cover the nuts and bolts of school-based practice. It gives great therapists the practical pieces they need to start working in schools.
So clinic owners, if you believe in the power of mentoring and resources for your staff but find yourself short on the time to provide it, my course is here to fill the gap. Saving you time and setting your staff and practice up for success when providing OT services in the schools. -
Can this course be purchased anytime?
Course content is immediately available to be purchased and viewed at any time to get your OT the information they need right away.
The mentoring calls happen at pre scheduled times throughout the year. All group coaching calls will be recorded so that the course takers can watch them if they miss a meeting. Participants are encouraged to submit questions via a Google form, ensuring no questions are missed and I can prepare any additional resources ahead of time.
Your OT will have access to the platform for 6 months and will need to complete a course completion test (passing score 70%) to receive the contact hours. Test needs to be completed within 6 months from enrollment. Your OT will be able to download all the digital resources for future reference to refer back to as needed. -
How much time should be set aside to complete this course?
The online pre-recorded presentation along with FAQs relevant to each module section would take about 4 hours to complete.
There is lifetime access to the templates and all resources for your OT to reference and use as needed in their practice. This would take them an additional 2 hours to review but longer to implement.
In addition, the Impact version includes 1:1 and group mentoring call
Lastly, you can customize a package based on your therapists needs. -
What are the instructional methods used in this course? What if accommodations are needed?
This is an online self-paced course with a pre-recorded presentation covering the course content in an audio and video format. It’s also supplemented with a downloadable slide deck for easy reference.
The course taker also gets FAQ documents discussing real-life scenarios for each module and other downloadable resources like templates, recommendations for teachers, example evaluation, and screening reports to apply in practice with lifelong access.
Group and 1:1 Mentorship opportunities are completed via video-conferencing.
If your OT needs accommodations, email me at [email protected] with details and I will provide accommodations per ADA. -
Are continuing education credits for ongoing professional registration issued for this course?
YES! The Self Study version is approved by AOTA for 0.6 CEUs, that is 6 contact hours whereas the Impact version is approved for 1.15 CEUs.
For custom packages, CEUs awarded will be adjusted based on contact hours.
In order to receive a certificate of completion with appropriate contact hours, the course taker will have to complete a post course quiz and pass with a minimum of 70%. -
What if this course doesn’t meet the needs of the OT I hire?
I am very certain that this course will prepare and increase confidence for school-based OT who put in the effort. This is why it’s backed up with a 30-day, 100% money-back guarantee.
I encourage you to discuss the course with your OT before purchasing to make sure they are committed and feel it will elevate their practice. If after signing up, your OT is not satisfied with the content, I am happy to refund the amount (minus 10% administrative fee). I encourage feedback with all refunds so that I can continue to improve my course. -
Can I purchase one course and share with multiple staff members?
No, the content of this course is developed to be completed in conjunction with the coaching and mentoring. The content, CEUs, and mentoring are a packaged program intended for one therapist. I invested time in creating and offering this program, I ask that you honor my investment by not sharing contents with multiple staff members.
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Still have questions before purchasing the course or run into issues?
Feel free to email me at [email protected] and I will be happy to answer any additional questions or support any issues that come up.
Course Creator and Mentor
Ushma Sampat
I strive to provide holistic and comprehensive OT services with team collaboration and training as key ingredients. My passion for improving the lives of children has informed my role as an OT educator. I spent more than 5 years honing my skills as school-based OT and continue to enjoy collaborating with schools through my private practice.
I love supporting fellow OTs through fieldwork, mentoring, and internships. Through my own practice and this course, I’ve mentored over 200 therapists become more confident and successful OTs. It brings me so much joy to think of all the lives I have touched- directly and indirectly, through my programs!
So, are you ready to partner with me to help you soar?
Email
I love supporting fellow OTs through fieldwork, mentoring, and internships. Through my own practice and this course, I’ve mentored over 200 therapists become more confident and successful OTs. It brings me so much joy to think of all the lives I have touched- directly and indirectly, through my programs!
So, are you ready to partner with me to help you soar?
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