Question 1

IDEA requires educationally relevant evaluations to be conducted by members of the IEP team. What would the occupational therapist bring to the evaluation process for a 16-year-old student who is eligible for special education and who is a quadriplegic as a result of a spinal cord injury at the age of 9?

Accepted Answer

The occupational therapist would bring the student's current level of participation in available education activities to the evaluation process. This information is important for determining the student's needs and developing an appropriate IEP.

Question 2

What does the term related services not include?

Accepted Answer

The term "related services" includes a wide range of supportive services that may be necessary to help children with disabilities benefit from their education, such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language therapy. However, vocational rehabilitation is not considered a related service under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Question 3

Ian is a 17-year-old with cerebral palsy who uses a manual wheelchair that is pushed by others. He is sociable, and he likes to talk, although it costs him some effort. As the occupational therapist, you carry out an ecological assessment in the domestic domain. You consider it important to note on the assessment form that Ian and his mother communicate quite effectively during meal preparation through the mother's use of "yes" and "no" type of questions, to which Ian responds. How would you document this observation using an ecological assessment form?

Accepted Answer

This observation should be documented as "performance" because it describes how Ian effectively communicates and participates in an activity (meal preparation) within his environment, showcasing his abilities and how he interacts with his mother. Ecological assessments focus on how individuals perform and engage in their natural contexts, making "performance" the appropriate category for this observation.

Question 4

Until what age are students eligible for transition services?

Accepted Answer

Students with disabilities are eligible for transition services until the age of 22 or when they receive a regular high school diploma, whichever comes first. This is set forth in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Question 5

There are many benefits associated with interagency linkages during the transition process for students with disabilities. Which of the following is true of interagency linkages?

Accepted Answer

Interagency linkages can include shared financial responsibility for a student's transition services. This means that multiple agencies, such as vocational rehabilitation and social services, can work together to provide necessary services and share the cost. This can lead to more comprehensive and effective transition planning for the student. The other options are not true. Schools do not direct and control transition services, as the process should involve collaboration with other agencies. Interagency linkages are a part of the law, specifically the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). While it is important to state interagency responsibilities and commitments in the IEP, it is not mandatory.

Question 6

Occupational therapists help to uphold the intent of IDEA. Which of the following represents optimal practice that is consistent with IDEA's intent?

Accepted Answer

IDEA's intent is to provide a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. Enabling students with and without disabilities to be educated together upholds this intent. Option A is not optimal practice as it limits collaboration only with special education teachers. Option C is also not optimal practice as it implies that special education students may not be able to fully meet general curriculum standards, which goes against the intent of IDEA. Option D is specific to transition services, and while important, does not address IDEA's broader intent of providing an inclusive education.

Question 7

Special education and services have been made available through the public education system to children and youth who have disabilities, since passage of Public Law 94-142 the Education for all Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (EHA), currently known as IDEA. How is occupational therapy described in the EHA and its subsequent amendments?

Accepted Answer

Occupational therapy is described as a related service in the EHA and its subsequent amendments. Related services are services that are necessary for a student with a disability to benefit from their education, and can include services such as transportation, counseling, and occupational therapy.

Question 8

In 1997, IDEA was reauthorized and amended. Key changes in the law included the addition of a general education focus. What are the implications of this change?

Accepted Answer

The addition of a general education focus in the 1997 reauthorization of IDEA meant that students with disabilities were expected to participate in the general education curriculum to the greatest extent possible. This does not mean that special education students spend all of their school time attending general classes or that special educators are no longer needed. Instead, it requires collaboration between general educators and special educators to support the needs of all students in the general education setting. The goal is for all children to receive an education that meets their individual needs, regardless of whether or not they have a disability.

Question 9

Cassie is an 18-year-old student with cerebral palsy who participates in a transition program. Before services, the education team completes an evaluation. Team members observe Cassie's performance during activities in selected environments. Based on careful observation, the activity demands and Cassie's ability to perform in each environment are noted. What kind of evaluation would you call this?

Accepted Answer

This evaluation is a discrepancy analysis, which involves observing and noting the differences between the demands of an activity and the individual's ability to perform it in various environments.

Question 10

Jonathan is a 15-year-old who sustained traumatic brain injury at the age of 5. He now has significant limitations when completing written classroom assignments. What should the education team do to help him?

Accepted Answer

The education team should identify appropriate transition goals to help Jonathan develop skills and strategies to manage his limitations and prepare for future educational and vocational opportunities.

Question 11

In what way did the 1997 amendments affect school-based occupational therapy services?

Accepted Answer

The 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) emphasized the inclusion of children with disabilities in general education classrooms. This meant that general education teachers became responsible for teaching all children, including those with disabilities, promoting a more inclusive educational environment.

Question 12

In 1997, IDEA was reauthorized and amended. Which of the following are now legal mandates?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In 1997, IDEA was reauthorized and amended....

Question 13

James sustained a severe head injury when he was 13. At 18 he is participating in a transition program at his high school. He has applied for a courtesy clerk position at a major grocery store. He has completed an application and an interview. The prospective employer is uncertain about having an employee with a disability. The occupational therapist on the team who knows James and the demands of the job decides to discuss the nature of brain injury and supported employment with the owner. What kind of occupational therapy intervention is this?

Accepted Answer

The answer of James sustained a severe head injury when...

Question 14

Which of the following are true of the Individualized Education Program (IEP)?

Accepted Answer

The Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a written plan that outlines the special education and related services that will be provided to a student with a disability. It is a legal document that schools are required to provide for students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). While the special education teacher may be involved in developing the IEP, it is typically a team effort that includes the student's general education teacher, parents or guardians, and other qualified professionals as needed.

Quiz 27: Transition Services: From School to Adult Life