One of the most frequently asked questions by educators is:

"How can I tell if a student needs a referral for school-based occupational therapy?"

     The following is a checklist that we have developed as an educator's guide to the identification of students at risk.

Guidelines for Referral:

• Child is 9 years old or under
• Approximately 50% or more of the symptoms applies in one or more sections.

Section I

1. Has trouble with cutting, tracing activities
2. Has trouble pasting one piece of paper on another
3. Has difficulty reading the writing on the blackboard
4. Has difficulty copying accurately from the blackboard, book, worksheet
5. Has difficulty spacing his letters as he writes them
6. Reverses letters more often than his classmates
7. Inconsistent hand dominance

Section IA
(underreactive vestibular disorder)

• Has trouble holding head up while sitting or writing
• Becomes fatigued more easily with class tasks as compared to peers
• When shifting body in chair, sometimes falls out of seat
• Stumbles and falls more frequently than others his age
• Often stands too close to other people
• Section IB (overreactive vestibular disorder)
• Does not interact or avoids playground equipment or moving toys
• Dislikes rough-housing, somersaults, rolling on the floor, jumping
• May avoid climbing, walking on a raised surface, over bumpy ground
• May not allow others to stand nearby when he is working

Section IC
(developmental dyspraxia:
a motor planning problem)

• Has not learned to do many self-help activities at age-appropriate level
• Has trouble putting on clothes, using buttons, zippers, and laces
• Does things in an inefficient way
• Appears weak, has low muscle tone
• Cannot tolerate upsets in plans and expectations
• Has a shortage of skills; has to practice each skill over and over
• Has trouble with pencil control; is messy
• Is slow to learn new games or new motor skills

     A mature pencil grip looks like this:
The grip is called a Mature Dynamic Tripod and is developed in children between the ages of 4 1/2 and 6 years of age

     A mature scissors grasp looks like this:
A mature scissor grasp is developed in children between the ages of 4 1/2 and 6 years of age