Ms. Jones teaches students with severe and multiple disabilities and is teaching self-help skills. Which professional is she most likely to contact for assistance?

Ms. Jones teaches students with severe and multiple disabilities and is teaching self-help skills. Which professional is she most likely to contact for assistance?

• A. An orthopedic physical therapist
• B. An adapted physical education teacher
• C. An occupational therapist
• D. A case manage

Answer: (C)

For helping students develop independence in daily living tasks, an occupational therapist is the most suitable professional. Occupational therapists specialize in self-care and daily living activities, carefully analyzing each task, breaking it into manageable steps, and adapting activities, tools, and environments so a student can perform dressing, feeding, grooming, and other personal-care skills. They can introduce assistive devices and environmental modifications to support safe participation and gradual independence. Other professionals have important roles but focus differently: a physical therapist concentrates on movement and physical function, an adapted physical education teacher concentrates on participation in physical education, and a case manager coordinates services rather than providing the hands-on strategies for self-care tasks.

For helping students develop independence in daily living tasks, an occupational therapist is the most suitable professional. Occupational therapists specialize in self-care and daily living activities, carefully analyzing each task, breaking it into manageable steps, and adapting activities, tools, and environments so a student can perform dressing, feeding, grooming, and other personal-care skills. They can introduce assistive devices and environmental modifications to support safe participation and gradual independence.

Other professionals have important roles but focus differently: a physical therapist concentrates on movement and physical function, an adapted physical education teacher concentrates on participation in physical education, and a case manager coordinates services rather than providing the hands-on strategies for self-care tasks.