What are the roles of physical therapists in special needs education?

–Comparisons of activities between two adjacent cities–

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the roles of physical therapists in special needs education based on the activities of physical therapists dispatched to two neighboring cities.

Methods: After being sent by A and B cities’ boards of education, we compared the scope of physical therapists’ visits to special needs and regular classes in public elementary and junior high schools.

Results: The two cities’ projects provided daily life guidance, guidance on assisting methods, and consultation services, among others, with the following differences. A city offered medical care to physically disabled children under doctors’ instructions. B city managed children with intellectual and developmental disorders by introducing them to medical institutions and promoting cooperation with prosthetic suppliers rather than providing medical care.

Conclusions: We concluded that physical therapists could support school life by directly listening to children, their families, and teachers. Moreover, continuous support enables physical therapists to provide advice about future care by understanding each child’s characteristics. physical therapy involved in special needs education need medical knowledge to provide physical therapy to physically handicapped children, knowledge of school education, environmental coordination, and learning task difficulties for children with intellectual and developmental disorders.