A workload approach provides practitioners with the flexibility to intervene directly with the students in their natural environments, as well as on their behalf, through consultation and collaboration. (AOTA, APTA, ASHA, 2014; Polichino & Jackson, 2014).
The workload approach looks at how the therapist’s time is spent versus the number of students with IEPs/IFSPs/504 Plans the therapist serves, taking into account all the activities required and performed.
- Flexibility in scheduling
- Less time in direct services
- Increase in collaboration
- More contextually based services
- Greater engagement with families
- Greater job satisfaction
Caseloads based on a medical model don’t capture the range of service demands placed on these professionals in school settings.
The caseload method looks solely at the number of students needing services or the number of intervention sessions required based on students’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs), and 504 Plans.
- More direct service
- Less time for collaboration
- Less contextually based services
- Difficulty with scheduling
- Unable to fulfill most of recommended best practices
Workload Calculator
The workload calculator below can be used to calculate related-service providers’ weekly workload based on past, current, or future schedules. The workload calculator can be accessed by opening a copy of the Google Sheet. Please email outreachprogram@eastersealsar.com if you have any questions.
Image adapted from (ASHA, 2023)
Additional Resources