Response to intervention (RtI) was instituted following the 2004 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The role and delivery of school-based occupational therapy (OT) services were not defined in the reauthorization of IDEA. However, the scope of school-based practitioners has broadened as a result of RtI initiatives. The RtI supplmental resource manual developed as a project proposal for this capstone defines the role of OT in RtI and the delivery models that align with county policy and funding. The supplemental resource provides OT recommended evidence-based interventions that can be feasibly implemented by the general education teacher within the classroom to support at-risk students or prevent issues from developing requiring further special education services. School systems often report that handwriting is the number one reason for OT referrals. Therefore handwriting interventions are the focus of this supplemental resource. The Tier I interventions were recommended based on the available research and support differentiated instruction and design for learning as part of the RtI initiative. The Tier II and three interventions require more OT involvement to identify and recommend more student individualized interventions. The overall goal is to have the OT supplemental resource included in the large metro county RtI manual that is currently being developed. The project proposal will promote a systemwide support that facilitates functional engagement in handwriting which is required for student success in numerous school and life occupations.
