title: Social Participation in Schools: A Survey of Occupational Therapy Practitioners.
abstract: We sought to identify strategies and practices that school-based occupational therapy practitioners use in addressing social participation, their perceptions of competence, and factors influencing their strategies and practices.
  
  
  
  Surveys were sent to 500 randomly selected members of the American Occupational Therapy Association's Early Intervention and School Special Interest Section; 112 usable surveys were received from 36 states.
  
  
  
  Respondents reported focusing on internal client factors when addressing social participation. Fewer than half (46.5%) indicated that they understood their role (mean [M] = 4.23, standard deviation [SD] = 1.22), and 57.1% desired greater understanding or ability (M = 4.64, SD = 1.29). Differences were found based on years of experience, service delivery model used, and services provided by diagnosis category.
  
  
  
  School-based occupational therapy practitioners may need to expand their current practices in addressing student social participation. Findings may be used to develop interventions to address this area of practice.
authors.affiliation: Kelly Leigers, MS, OTR/L, is Assistant Professor, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond; Kelly.Leigers@EKU.edu.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leigers
authors.affiliation: Christine Myers, PhD, OTR/L, is Research Assistant Professor, University of Florida, Gainesville.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.affiliation: Colleen Schneck, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Department Chair and Professor, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond.
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schneck