Children at Risk for Learning Disabilities: Occupational Therapists' Perceptions about Pre-and Post-Early Intervention Services
Graduation Date
2007
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy
Department
Occupational Therapy
Department or Program Chair
Ruth Ramsey, EdD, OTR/L
Thesis Advisor
Stacy Frauwirth, MS, OTR/L
Second Advisor
Bonnie Napier-Tibere, EdD, OTR/L
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to explore pediatric occupational therapists’ perceptions about the nature and availability of services provided for children at-risk for a learning disability (LD). The practice patterns and clinical reasoning methods utilized by occupational therapists in the early identification of a child at-risk for an LD were also explored. A mixed-method research design utilizing a web-based survey and semi- structured, in-person interviews was used to collect data for this research. Twenty-nine pediatric occupational therapists responded to the survey and two pediatric occupational therapists volunteered to be interviewed for this research.
This research supports that pediatric occupational therapists consider the early identification of a child at-risk for an LD beneficial, and that pediatric occupational therapists’ perceive a role in the early identification and intervention of children birth to three years of age who are at-risk for an LD. This research also verified that the only time a child at-risk for an LD may receive school-based occupational therapy services is when the child’s school performance is compromised and an official diagnosis of LD has been established. Data collection for this research revealed a strong relationship between occupational therapists and classroom teachers, and various strategies utilized b\ occupational therapists to obtain federal services for children at-risk for an LD.