08/19/2026
"We already get OT/speech at school — can't they just do what you do?"
We hear this often, and it's a fair question! We love partnering with our families' school teams — school-based OT and speech services are valuable, and we're not here to replace them.
But the honest answer is: no, and understanding why helps set the right expectations.
School-based therapy exists to support access to education. The therapist's scope is tied to the classroom — is this challenge getting in the way of learning? Services are governed by an IEP or 504 plan, sessions are often brief, and may happen in a group.
At The Therapy Collaborative, our scope is broader by design:
🖐️ OT — sensory processing (often the root cause of meltdowns, avoidance, or seeking behaviors), motor planning, coordination, self-regulation, feeding, dressing, and play skills.
🗣️ Speech — articulation, language development, social communication, feeding/swallowing, fluency, and voice.
Sessions are 1:1, individualized, and built around your child's goals — not an educational eligibility standard.
School and private therapy aren't competing — they're two tools solving two different problems. We're always glad to collaborate with your child's school team.
👉 Questions about how school services and care with us fit together? Send us a message or give us a call at 309-300-8737.
