OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PRACTICE IN SCHOOL SYSTEMS: A SURVEY OF SWITZERLAND

Background: Inclusiveness is one of the basic assumptions of occupational therapy. Within the concepts of inclusion, enabling participation in school is an important aspect. As a result of the Salamanca Statement, Swiss... [ view full abstract ]

Background:
Inclusiveness is one of the basic assumptions of occupational therapy. Within the concepts of inclusion, enabling participation in school is an important aspect. As a result of the Salamanca Statement, Swiss educational regulations changed towards integrative schooling. These changes influenced paediatric occupational therapy practice and occupational therapists started closer collaboration and working within integrative schools. To know more about this emerging working field, research on the current state of practice of occupational therapists working with or within the Swiss school system is needed.

Method:
Online questionnaires were sent to all pediatric occupational therapists registered in the Swiss occupational therapy association database of all three language regions. The results were analyzed based on descriptive statistics.

Results:
Results illustrate occupational therapists’ contact and collaboration with schools, and their practice within school settings. Occupational therapists’ chosen frames of references, the assessments used, and the interventions and services provided are outlined. The diagnosis of the children, the characteristics of the schools that occupational therapists work in or with, and the financing of OT school services are summarized. Chances and faced challenges of occupational therapists are described.

Conclusion:
Occupational therapists’ role and practice in the Swiss school system are concluded. Furthermore, strategies for preparing occupational therapy students for school-based interventions are discussed and further research is suggested.

Application to Practice
New knowledge about current state of practice, challenges, and chances of occupational therapists working with or within the school system, enables to shape and further develop school-based occupational therapy in Switzerland.