LIVESTRONG.COM Blog

The role of occupational therapists in public schools has become a widely discussed topic in light of a court case that might be reviewed by the highest court in the nation soon. The U.S. Supreme Court may decide this issue in Jacob Winkelman, et al., v. Parma City School District sometime during fall 2009. The Supreme Court chooses what cases it will hear in the fall over the summer.

The case looks at the school district in Parma, Ohio, and the way it provided occupational therapy to Jacob Winkelman, a child living with autism. Occupational therapy helps students with autism learn how to interact socially, and can also positively affect students' academic performance. 

A number of advocate groups are joining forces to support the petitioners in the case because they think children with autism have the right to receive highly personalized occupational therapy services at public schools.

Christina A. Metzler, the chief public affairs officer at the Americans Occupational Therapy Association, said the case is a good opportunity to bring attention to the importance of the use of occupational therapy services in schools for children with autism. 

"The AOTA is extremely supportive of the Supreme Court taking on the issues raised by this case," she said.

Occupational therapists can aid both children who have disabilities and those that don't get ready to execute everyday school tasks. They access students' capabilities, strengths and needs, then, through collaborations with their teachers and others, set up yearly goals and a plan to meet them.

Sandra Schefkind, MS, OTR/L, pediatric coordinator at AOTA, added that parents are also an important part of this group.

"The team develops realistic, achievable, outcome-based, individualized goals for the student and identifies the appropriate team members to provide the services to achieve the established goals," she said.

The AOTA, The Autistic Self Advocacy Network and Parents for Autistic Children's Education are amongst the supporters that introduced two briefs in support of the petitioners for U.S. Supreme Court review, according to a press release from AOTA. The sponsors are hopeful that the court will agree to hear the case.

The Court could decide how individualized an autistic child's education program should be. A decision would also influence how the right of individuals with disabilities to a "free appropriate education" should be carried out.

Should the court decide to review the case, it will be the second time they will hear a case concerning Jacob. On May 21, 2007, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision saying that Jacob's parents had the right to represent him in court. The decision set a new precedent for parental rights and the importance of parental involvement in court cases concerning children with disabilities and their right to a "free appropriate public education."

For information about Autism, visit the LIVESTRONG topic page here.

--By Charity Scott