Comments on: The Untapped Potential: How Occupational Therapy Assistants Are Revolutionizing MTSS in Early Education

By: Kathy Mullen C.O.T.A/L

Kathy Mullen C.O.T.A/L — Thu, 22 May 2025 13:09:03 +0000

I am a C.O.T.A/L in the state of NJ. and have worked at my current school for over 20 years. Over the years I have had several OT supervisors each bringing their own twist to treatment of special needs children in schools.
I can tell you there have been so many reasons for my successes throughout the years however the real reason is that my OT’s were excellent treating therapists with an ability to organize and advocate for the services they were providing.
Suggestion: Keep a good accounting of your time billable and non-billable services. Screening for visual and developmental delays is helpful in schools that are open to this kind of service. Building a caseload is necessary to building staff with a C.O.T.A at a reasonable cost to the district.

By: Kristen McLean

Kristen McLean — Wed, 21 May 2025 16:41:49 +0000

Can you provide specific examples of successful school districts, using OT/OTA’s in the MTSS process? That would be helpful data to share with my district.

By: Kristin S.

Kristin S. — Wed, 21 May 2025 13:53:20 +0000

I’m a part-time OTR in my district. How do you suggest getting a little more involved with MTSS? I wouldn’t have the capacity to do as you have entailed above, but I still see the desperate need in the general ed population. I am in a district coming from an OT who did not do much overall, even barely seeing her students, who she was supposed to see. I am having to patch bridges and show what OT can do when done as it should be.
Thank you!