Increase function and independence

The Occupational Therapy department supports students to be to successfully accomplish what they want or need in daily life. 

With the Integrated Clinical Services team, we work together to increase participation in life skills and their roles as students, friends, family members, employees, and community members. We look at functioning through a strengths-based and social model of disability, looking at how the student (person), environment (school, home, or community) and activity the student wants or needs to be doing can create a just right challenge to help students reaching their true potential and goals. 

We use evidence-based practices such as collaborative problem solving, coaching, adapting tasks to set realistic expectations, and therapeutic strategies around self-regulation that support active engagement in learning and meaningful activities. Collaborative consultation, coaching, and context-embedded approaches allow us to authentically work with students to achieve success, self-determination, and quality of life. 

Occupational therapy service qualification is provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as part of the student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Improvements to sensory rooms and break spaces

Since late fall of 2024, The Guild School has been working on renovations to existing break spaces and construction to create new sensory rooms that provide a quiet and structured environment where students can step away from overwhelming situations, calm their emotions, and practice self-regulation skills. Clinicians, students, staff, families, and expert vendors developed an initial concept of how these spaces might best meet the needs of each of our students and the student body as a whole.

One view of a sensory room shows felt tiles on the wall, a curved compression chair, a bean bag in the corner, two interactive panels with different lights, and a cloud-shaped mirror.

Our OT team

Mary Alicia Barnes, OTD, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

Bridget Bradford, OT, OTD, OTR

Occupational Therapist

Nicole Picone, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist