Introduction / Rationale: Integrating Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) can revitalize school occupational therapy practice. School occupational therapy practitioners can provide distinct value through integrating PBIS to promote optimal arousal levels for learning, modify activities for students with significant mental health and developmental challenges, develop individualized environmental adaptations, and integrate social skills into school routines. Additionally, a team approach to PBIS will ensure behavioral plans include both sensory and behavioral assessments.
Objectives:
- Discuss appropriate integration of PBIS into school occupational therapy practice.
- Apply 2 new school occupational therapy strategies integrating PBIS.
Methods / Approach: Demonstration, practicum, and a distributed handout of learning readiness strategies will be used to present school occupational therapy strategies integrating PBIS.
Results / Practice Implications: Integrating PBIS promotes distinct value in school occupational therapy practice and can facilitate a team approach. Inclusion of PBIS strategies will also facilitate the development of behavioral plans that include both sensory and behavioral assessments.
Conclusion / Contribution to the occupational therapy profession: School occupational therapy practitioners can provide distinct value using PBIS by individualizing environmental adaptations, promoting optimal arousal levels for learning, modifying activities for students who have mental health and developmental challenges, and integrating social skills into school routines. Integrating PBIS will also facilitate school occupational therapy practitioners using an integrated team approach that enhances transdisciplinary consistency between Tier 1, 2, and 3 interventions.