Date of Award

2011

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Breann Lamborn

Keywords

Occupational Therapy -- education; Schools

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the level of knowledge concerning OT roles in the school district setting that undergraduate education majors are receiving at Casper College.

Methodology: Data was collected from 57 participants through the use of a survey to identify pre-service teachers’ perception of occupational therapy and the education they have received in their coursework.

Results of this study indicate that undergraduate education majors at Casper College are receiving less than optimal instruction on the role of OT in school-based practice. Overall 91% of students polled indicated that they had not received education on OT in their coursework.

Conclusions: Collaboration between educators and OT is necessary for both professions to operate effectively in a national system of federally mandated services. The lack of understanding of the role of OT in the public school setting may complicate the collaborative process between OT’s and public educators during special education service delivery.

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