Asst. Prof. Kim Gerald G. Medallon, MHPEd, a faculty member of the聽Department of Occupational Therapy聽(OT) of the聽College of Rehabilitation Sciences, presented a research paper entitled 鈥淎llied Health Care in the Education Setting: Conceptualizing Occupational Therapy Roles by Public School Professionals鈥� during the 7th International Higher Education Research Forum, held in Quezon City from August 27-29, 2019.
The paper, which Medallon co-authored with fellow OT faculty members Asst. Prof. Karen S. Sagun-Ongtangco, MSOT (lead author), and Mr. Allan James T. Tan, MSOT, aimed to 鈥渄etermine the perspectives of public elementary school teachers and principals on the role of OT in inclusive education.鈥� Using key informant interviews, focus group discussion, and review of records, the descriptive study found that while the participants had a positive attitude toward occupational therapists in an inclusive education setting, there was 鈥渃onsiderable role confusion鈥hich can limit effective collaboration鈥nd impede the referral system.鈥�
The non-government organization 鈥淪ave the Children鈥� has as one of its projects 鈥�Kabataang-Aralin Sa Lahat Ay Ibahagi鈥� (KASALI), which provides opportunities for children with disabilities (CWD) to be part of the inclusive education program. To achieve this, a referral system between teachers and allied health professionals, particularly occupational therapists, is desired. Thus, the research was conceived.
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