OTS 202: Why Every School-Based OT Needs an Occupational Profile

Are you still relying on the Peabody or BOT as your go-to assessment? You're not alone, but you might be missing something critical. In this episode, we dive deep into occupation-based assessment with Dr. Alysha Skuthan and Dr. Erin Gaby, who recently published groundbreaking research on the occupational profile in school-based practice.This conversation is for every school-based OT who has ever wondered: What actually makes an assessment occupation-based? Why does the occupational profile matter? And how can I fit it into my already overwhelming workload?The research reveals surprising findings from their research showing that 35% of school-based OTs don't complete occupational profiles, despite it being a formal requirement in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework.You'll hear practical strategies for collecting occupational profiles, honest talk about barriers like time constraints and parent communication, and compelling reasons why using occupational language in your reports matters for advocacy. Plus, they discuss occupation-based alternatives to common standardized tests and share their favorite tools like the School Function Assessment.Listen to learn how shifting to occupation-based practice can transform not just your assessments, but your entire intervention approach.Learning Objectives— Learners will identify the key characteristics that distinguish occupation-based assessments from skill-based assessments— Learners will recognize why the occupational profile is an important component of every SBOT evaluation— Learners will identify the importance of using occupational language in evaluation reports for professional advocacyClick here to register & get the best deal on the 2026 Back to School Conference!  Thanks for tuning in! Thanks for tuning into the OT Schoolhouse Podcast brought to you by the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative Community for school-based OTPs. In OTS Collab, we use community-powered professional development to learn together and implement strategies together. Don't forget to subscribe to the show and check out the show notes for every episode at OTSchoolhouse.comSee you in the next episode!