Occupational therapy and school‐to‐work transition: A preventive education model

Abstract

This report describes a preventive education model of occupational therapy that anticipates and prevents problems of postsecondary school transition among students with disabilities. Under the model, therapists assess students' functional skills in three transition related areas: personal attitudes, interpersonal behaviors and work habits. Therapists then preventively train these skills through an individualized program of direct therapy with consultation or indirect therapy with on‐going monitoring of student performance. These therapeutic activities are integrated within existing curricular activities at each grade level and coordinated across grades throughout the student's public school career. Research evidence and case history illustrations about the effectiveness of the model are presented. The report recommends strategies to ensure that students with disabilities acquire prerequisite skills before — not after — beginning their transition from high school to work and independent living in the community. Copyright © 1994 Whurr Publishers Ltd.