Special Education Services
Plano Independent School District

Physical Therapy Eligibility

In the educational setting, Physical Therapy is a related service. A related service is a service that an IEP team determines is necessary for a student to benefit from special education services. Once a student is eligible for special education services, the school staff tries modifications to provide an environment to allow the student to be successful in school. If the student is unable to make progress on specific motor skills, self help skills, positioning, mobility or environmental access, a referral for an evaluation by a Physical Therapist can be made. An ARD committee relies on the related service evaluation (in this case, physical therapy) for information necessary to determine a student's individual needs for physical therapy. After this information is gathered, the ARD committee will determine whether a student requires physical therapy in order to benefit from instruction. Decisions regarding what type of therapy is provided, how it is provided and who is to provide it are directly tied to the student’s overall educational program. School based therapy is intended to meet the needs of the student to promote success in the educational environment. The ARD committee considers all evaluator's recommendations, parent and teacher reports and observations in deciding a student's unique needs.

The ARD committee determines whether the related service of physical therapy is necessary to achieve the goals that are directly tied to the student’s overall educational program. All team members support the attainment of the student’s educational goals. Therefore, therapy and other related services integrate services into the classroom to support educational goals and objectives rather than the focus of separate therapy goals or objectives/benchmarks. School based therapy is intended to collaborate with the school staff to meet the needs of the student to promote success in the educational environment. School based therapy is not intended to meet all the therapy needs of a student but is intended to meet the needs of the student to promote success in the educational environment.

According to the PT state practice act, a prescription for physical therapy must be obtained from a doctor licensed in the state of Texas before PT services can begin.

The ARD committee will discuss the need for continued PT services at least annually, using information obtained from the school staff, parents and observation of the student in his educational setting.

Physical Therapy Home Page, Eligibility, Equipment , Note to Parents