A Transdisciplinary Approach to the Occupational Therapist and Speech-Language Pathologist Collaboration

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the United States, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology are two school-based therapeutic disciplines with clear guidelines and scopes of practice set forth by both federal and state regulatory boards. Although the scopes of practice are specific to each discipline, the boundaries often blend, requiring therapists to depend upon one another and be respectful of each other’s perspectives to transcend expected therapeutic outcomes. Multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary are three levels of occupational therapy and speech-language pathology collaboration in the school environment. A transdisciplinary approach is the optimal level of collaboration occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists should strive for in order to improve student outcomes. SpOT Group provides a framework for occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists to incorporate differentiated lesson plans to meet the diverse needs of students while documenting services for billing and licensing purposes. SpOT Group also examines the common barriers to a transdisciplinary collaborative approach including funding, competency, and role release. Following the SpOT Group framework occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and their respective students can collectively support goals and support student outcomes.