Iowa’s AEA Occupational Therapy Leadership Team Develops Position Paper with Guidance Around Responding to Sensory Concerns in the School Setting

Recently, a range of questions and requests regarding sensory processing and other sensory terminology have been brought to the attention of educational-based occupational therapists from school staff, outside agencies, medical practitioners and families. Therefore, a work team from the Iowa’s AEAs Occupational Therapist Statewide Leadership group met to review research and clarify sensory terminology and to develop a position paper on the use of sensory practices in the educational setting.

The position paper, Sensory Terminology and Evidence-Based Practices for the Educational Occupational Therapist, applies to school-age (three to 21) special education services supported by AEA occupational therapists, special education staff, school administration, other educators and families. The purpose of the paper, based on the review of research, is to clarify the role of the educational occupational therapist as well as sensory terminology, definitions and conclusions for services provided in the educational setting.

Special acknowledgment goes to the Iowa’s AEAs Occupational Therapist Work Team who developed the paper:

• Lou Cortner, OT/L, Northwest AEA
• Marty Hudson, OTR/L, Great Prairie AEA
• Monica Packard, MS, OTR/L, Grant Wood AEA

The Work Team processes included an extensive review of literature, development of multiple drafts and formal review by all Iowa AEA special education directors, Dr. Barb Guy (Special Education Director/Iowa Department of Education) and Thomas Mayes (Attorney/Iowa Department of Education).