Physical therapy is available at Duffy School for those students who are identified as needing it. A physical therapist is an individual who is specially trained to work with individuals with various handicapping conditions to prevent or minimize disability, relieve pain, develop and improve motor function, control postural deviations and establish and maintain maximum performance within the individual’s physical capabilities. 

            Physical therapists are health professionals who evaluate and treat people with a variety of dysfunctions. They assess joint motion, muscle strength and endurance, cardiac and pulmonary function, development, functional ability, sensation and perception, integrity of the skin, muscle tone and reflexes, and performance of functional activities. They evaluate patients' needs, diagnose physical therapy problems, establish plans of care, and evaluate their effectiveness.

             School-based physical therapists focus on helping students develop skills which will increase their independence in the school environment, on removing barriers from students’ ability to learn and on educating school personnel about the different considerations required for students with disabilities.  

            Physical therapists examine and intervene to improve students’ functional abilities in the classrooms, hallways, lunchroom and other areas that may be part of the educational setting (community facilities and vocational settings).  They also help students participate in activities outside of the immediate school environment by assisting with mobility on the playgrounds, on field trips, during sports events, and within the community.  They work with school personnel on adapting or modifying equipment and educational materials. 

Everything the physical therapist does with students in the school must be educationally relevant. 

  Back To Top

Back To Student Resources