Episode 24: Why OT Eligibility Varies: How Therapist Approaches Shape School vs. Private OT

Occupational therapy is one of the most misunderstood services in special education. Families are often told their child “doesn’t qualify” for school-based OT while simultaneously paying for private OT multiple times a week.In Episode 24, I talk with occupational therapist Cody Lukasik about the real reasons behind this disconnect. This conversation goes beyond surface-level explanations and dives into how schools define educational impact, how private practice defines clinical need, and why those two frameworks often collide instead of align.This episode is not about blaming schools or therapists. It is about understanding how eligibility decisions are made, how training and interpretation shape outcomes, and why a child can clearly struggle yet still be found “not eligible” in the IEP process. If you’ve ever wondered why your child receives private OT but not school-based OT, or felt that the explanations in meetings were incomplete or overly technical, this episode will give you language, clarity, and context.Cody explains how occupational therapy actually works in educational settings, why compensatory strategies often replace rehabilitation, and how underlying skills like visual-motor processing, sequencing, and sensory integration are frequently overlooked in eligibility decisions.🌱 In this episode, we explore:✨ The difference between educational impact and clinical need in OT eligibility✨ Why a child can receive private OT but not qualify for school-based OT✨ How standardized assessments shape school decisions✨ The hidden skills behind tasks like writing, cutting, and gluing✨ Visual-motor, sensory, and cognitive factors that affect academic performance✨ The role of training and continuing education in OT evaluations✨ Why accommodations often replace true skill-building in schools✨ The immersion model and what integrated therapy in classrooms can look like✨ Common misunderstandings families have about OT under IDEA✨ Practical insights to help parents interpret evaluations and IEP decisionsIf you’ve ever left an IEP meeting feeling that the explanations didn’t fully reflect your child’s needs, this episode is for you. Understanding how occupational therapy is interpreted across settings doesn’t just clarify eligibility, it gives families a stronger foundation to question, advocate, and push for services that address the underlying skills, not just the visible symptoms.🎧 Listen to Episode 24 on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch on YouTube. www.youtube.com/@FlorDeAmeliaSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TC4pMJxQrwcyStNfnc9Rd?si=b77353d4aea34a3dApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/starting-with-iep/id1828187191Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3a1b111a-750f-4c5e-a3c5-38c55ee4e2d4/starting-with-iep✨ Connect with Cody and explore his knowledge:Website: https://www.emergingkids.org/Instagram: @emergingkidsot Facebook: Emerging Kids Pediatric Occupational Therapy💡 Don’t forget to grab your 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗜𝗘𝗣 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸. Comment IEP PROCESS below.👉 Parents, has a teacher or school shown you compassion during the IEP journey? Share your experience with us!Let’s Connect!Turn IEP stress into confidence. I share useful resources every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday across all my social media platforms.Podcast Website: http://www.startingwithiep.com/Website: https://www.flordeamelia.comFor content collaborations, email: [email protected]#ExecutiveFunctioning #ADHDParentSupport #IEPHelp #ParentingNeurodivergentKids #OT #PWN #CEUs #OccupationalTherapy #FlorDeAmelia #CodyLukasik #StartingwithIEPPodcast #ParentConfidence #SpecialEducation #AutismParenting #IEPJourney #EmotionalRegulation #ParentSupport