Occupational & Physical Therapy Services

Occupational Therapists:

An occupational therapist focuses on a person's daily occupation. Occupation, as described by an occupational therapist, is anything that a person does during their everyday life that is important and meaningful to them. A child's main occupations are play and school. A school-based occupational therapist must assure that children are functioning at their highest levels in order to reach their maximum potential at school. In a school setting, the occupational therapist may be involved in facilitating any or all of the following areas, which may interfere with a child's educational performance:

  • self-help skills (feeding, dressing, hygiene);

  • fine and visual motor skills (handwriting, keyboarding, cutting);

  • sensory processing and visual processing skills;

  • positional, functional mobility, and transitions;

  • functional communication through alternative methods;

  • adaptive devices/equipment (adapting tools/techniques to ensure success); and

  • educational tools/toys use (working towards developmental milestones).


Federal law mandates that occupational therapy (OT) in the school system be educationally relevant. School-based occupational therapy services are not designed to satisfy the medical needs of the student, but rather to meet the educational needs of the student. The child's IEP team may determine whether a child qualifies for OT.

VWSD has two occupational therapists on staff, who provide services to children with special needs, beginning at the age of three and continuing through the age of twenty-one. Some special areas addressed by the occupational therapists include EMR, multi-disabled, autistic, and early education classrooms.

Occupational therapists in Mississippi must:

  • Obtain a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree in occupational therapy;
    Be certified by the National Certification Board of Occupational Therapists; and
    Be licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Health.

Physical Therapists:

Physical therapy (PT) is a related service provided to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education. A school physical therapist focuses on a child's ability to move as independently as possible in the school environment. The school physical therapist evaluates the child's ability to move throughout the school and to participate in classroom activities.

The decision of whether a child with a disability qualifies for school physical therapy is made by the IEP team. This team determines whether the child has a disability, has a need for special education, and requires related services such as PT.

PT interventions are designed to enable the student to travel throughout the school environment; participate in classroom activities; and maintain and change positions in the classroom, as well as manage stairs, restrooms, and the cafeteria.

VWSD has one physical therapist and one physical therapist assistant on staff who services children with special needs ages three and above throughout the district. Physical therapists in Mississippi must:

  • Have a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree in physical therapy;

  • Be certified by taking a national board exam; and

  • Be licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Health.