Returning to School
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Physical Concerns
MOBILITY
- Encourage independent mobility. To accomplish this, the child may need additional time between classes to allow for independent mobility.
- Consider safety issues, such as stairs, doors, going outside and encountering other individuals in the halls.
- Assess the need for a paraprofessional to assist with mobility.
POSITIONING
- Provide pressure relief on a regular schedule.
- Time should be built into the child's school day when he/she can get out of the wheelchair. Suitable alternatives include a school desk chair, standing frame, mat on the floor or bean bag chair.
- Range of motion exercises should be performed by a physical therapist or trained paraprofessional as part of the school day. This is important for orthopedic considerations, so the child's level of functional independence or functional abilities can be maintained or improved in the school setting.
- Physical therapy should be made a part of the educational programming, as determined by the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) meeting. Refer to state and federal laws concerning mandated services.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Adaptive physical education (physical education with modifications, including perhaps assistance from a paraprofessional) may be appropriate if the child:
- Has significant physical limitations
- Is significantly below the class in skill level
- Has cognitive issues related to safety awareness or lacks the mobility to tolerate multiple stimuli
- Needs to abide by physician-ordered restrictions