Question
What is the role of a school based occupational therapy practitioner in managing a student’s recovery following a concussion?
Answer
The role of a school based occupational therapy practitioner (OTP) in concussion recovery is multifaceted, grounded in a holistic, occupation-centered approach that promotes health, functional recovery, and educational engagement. OTPs assess the impact of concussion on performance skills, client factors, and environmental contexts to support the student’s re-engagement in meaningful school activities. They collaborate with educators, families, and medical professionals to develop individualized intervention plans that consider the physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms of concussion, emphasizing safe participation and gradual return to academic and extracurricular activities.
Drawing from the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, 4th Edition (OTPF-4), the OTP evaluates how concussion-related symptoms affect a student’s occupational performance across categories such as rest, sleep, education, and leisure. Intervention strategies are often built on universally designed learning (UDL) principles to ensure flexibility in instruction and accessibility, with modifications to the learning environment or materials as needed. The OTP also fosters the student’s self-identity and personal growth through meaningful engagement in activities that reflect their evolving capacities, ensuring that recovery supports not only academic success but also overall well-being.
Ultimately, the OTP’s role centers on enabling post-concussed students to “do” again—to re-engage in their daily roles and routines through individualized supports, thus guiding them toward “becoming” their full selves during and after recovery. This approach addresses occupational imbalance and helps mitigate risks such as depression, anxiety, and academic decline, which are commonly associated with prolonged post-concussion symptoms.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course, "The Role of School-Based Occupational Therapy in Concussion Management," presented by Jennifer Morgan, OTD-PP, OTR/L.
