6-29-07
OT Speaks at Capitol Hill Briefing on NCLB
Kristin Conaboy, at left, explained the role of therapists in school intervention services under NCLB. (Photo courtesy of NAPSO)
On June 13, occupational therapist Kristin Conaboy, OTR/L, served as a panelist for a Capitol Briefing sponsored by the National Alliance of Pupil Services Organizations (NAPSO), a coalition of national organizations that support school-based prevention and intervention services.
Conaboy represented occupational therapy practitioners, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and school nurses to highlight the role these professionals have under No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and, a lesser extent, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
When NAPSO needed someone to present on behalf of these four professions, AOTA's Federal Affairs department worked quickly to have an occupational therapy practitioner speak, and succeeded in securing Conaboy's participation.
Titled "Supporting Student Success: The Role of Pupil Services in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act," the briefing aimed to educate Hill staff about the capacity and scope of pupil services, mainly in the general education arena under NCLB. Conaboy specifically demonstrated the consultative role that occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and school nurses can provide for teachers and administrators working with children without disabilities. She also spoke briefly on the more traditional, direct service role these professionals offer for students with disabilities.
NCLB and its pending reauthorization constitute an opportunity for occupational therapy, among other pupil services, to move increasingly into the general education arena. Those who attended included education advocates and Capitol Hill staff interested in education issues.