| Melinda McGouldrick, OTR, MOT
Manager, School-Based Therapy Services, Harris County
Dept. of Education For whatever
reason, you have decided it’s the right time to change from being a therapist in
the hospital, clinic, or skilled nursing facility. You are experienced in your
current world, you know the language, you speak in familiar acronyms, and the
processes and equipment are familiar and routine. Yes, you educate.
You give home programs, you are involved in discharge planning, and you
educate caregivers. You are ready for
change . . . you are making the leap . . . you like working with kids . . .it
sure would be nice to be on your own children’s school schedules . . . .It takes
a while, but you land a new job in the schools. Wow!
You know there
will be new learning and you are ready. Just know that the change is bigger and
there are more differences than you had anticipated. This is not a
bad thing…just under appreciated until you live it.
You have become
comfortable knowing that ROM is range of motion, H&P is history and
physical, etc. etc. and you can even read it when a physician scribbles it on
his notes. Be prepared, because you will find that the acronyms in the education
world are completely different. In the resource section of this website there is
a 7 page list of Frequently Used Acronyms and Terms for School-based Practice
in Texas. The only familiar term that you will notice is TBI
for traumatic brain injury. It is a different and rich language.
(Frequently used Acronyms and Terms for School-based Practice in TX; TxSpot Resources Page) Other
resources on this website describe the
difference between school-based practice and the medical model/clinical
focus. (Comparison of School-Based to Clinic-Based Therapy; FAQ: Clarify school-based v. medical model; School Based vs. Clinical Based
Therapy- Region 10 website) The services therapists provide in the school
setting are vital components of a therapy world that is serving the 3-21 year
olds in our state…we are helping to prepare for their future and in doing so our
own futures. This is not to say you will not continue to consider
self-care, mobility, positioning, and the underlying fine and gross motor
skills. Your identity as a therapist who values the facilitation
of independence and helping people will continue to be nurtured.
But, as a therapist, it is a mind shift to support. You
will look at the role of others on the team and regard the environment through a
different set of lenses. Among other things you will be supporting
literacy and assistive technology, and “UDL” (Universal Design for
Learning). Your goals will no longer be therapy-specific goals,
but will be in support of the student’s educational goals within a team
plan. You are now a member of a group whose mission is to help a
student be able to receive a free and appropriate education and to participate
in his or her educational environment. At the most basic
level of operations, you have always organized yourself and your personal
schedule in regard to work hours. Now you will think in terms of
days. If you worked full time you had vacation and sick time or
PTO or EIB. In the schools when you are enjoying that winter or
spring break or that long summer break with your children, those days are not
counted in your “contract” days. Don’t get me wrong; it is
fabulous to not be dealing with hospital holiday scheduling stress.
You will still get personal leave days,
but they are counted differently and depend on the school or district in
which you work. Just remember when
you are feeling overwhelmed with all the effort and learning and energy that you
put into this change…it is all worth it! I’ve made the
switch and you can, too. You’re going to love it!
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