Physical Therapist
When our child is identified as having a special need, this may include having our son or daughter receiving services from a physical therapist. You may wonder who a PT or physical therapist is. A physical therapist will focus on helping children with special needs in the areas of gross motor skills (i.e. crawling, sitting, walking, running, jumping, etc.). They can work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, clinics, private offices, and school settings (i.e. will consult with the child's teacher and family). Physical therapists must complete an undergraduate and and masters degree that focuses on physical therapy. Some will pursue a doctorates degree.
What Does a Physical Therapist Do for Children with Special Needs?
Physical therapists will provide services either at a child's home, childcare provider, or school. This is dependent on the age of the child (if receiving services from birth to toddler stage then the child would receive services at home or childcare provider's home; if the child is attending at school then the child would receive services at school). The physical therapist can provide services to the child either directly or indirectly. If the services are provided directly to the child, it would be done in a one-on-one setting. These services may assist with helping the child improve his or her gross motor limitations (i.e. if the child is having a difficult time sitting up independently, the physical therapist may utilize different techniques on how to improve this gross motor task). A physical therapist can also provide services indirectly through modeling an array of techniques, skills, and methods of how the child's family, childcare provider, and teachers can assist in improving the child's gross motor limitations. A physical therapist will develop a plan in writing to indicate what will be done for the child, how it will be done, and how frequently will it be done. In some cases, the plan may incorporate visual aids (i.e. pictures) to show parents and educators how to perform the different techniques (i.e. how to do transfers or lifts of a child that is in a wheelchair) properly and safely. It is also important to let you physical therapist know about any concerns or observations that you have made regarding your child's gross motor well-being. Your child may be receiving services from multiple service providers (i.e. occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, assistive technology coordinator, etc.), it is important to have open communication with all of your child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team members.
