An occupational therapy evaluation assesses the student’s abilities related to their occupations (the everyday activities that people do as individuals, in families, and with communities to occupy time and bring meaning and purpose to life).
The evaluation process is focused on finding out what the student wants and needs to do; determining what the student can do and has done; and identifying supports and barriers to health, well-being, and participation. It may include areas of evaluation such as activities of daily living (ADLs), education, play, social participation, routines/roles, executive functions, gross/fine motor skills, and sensory processing/regulation skills.
The evaluator will review background information, past and current medical history, and therapy history in order to create an occupational profile. The occupational therapist will then select relevant assessments, which can be a variety of functional, formal standardized assessments, skilled observations, checklists, histories, and interviews. The occupational therapist and the student will have approximately 4-5 hours of direct assessment time at the Robinowitz Center.
Following the assessments, the evaluator will synthesize results into a comprehensive written report which reflects strengths and barriers to student participation in the educational environment. This information can guide occupationally based intervention plans and recommendations based on the therapist’s clinical reasoning and interpretation of the data. Considerations for modifications, accomodations and desired outcomes of intervention may also be included in the report.
Upon completion of the written report, a meeting to review the results can be scheduled.