A Fatal Flaw: Occupational Therapy’s Dependence on Mandates
New York’s Bill A.5474 proposes expanding the role of occupational therapy in schools by requiring the state commissioner to issue a guidance memorandum on OT services, particularly in early intervention and mental health support. Additionally, it calls for regulatory changes to formally include OTs within pupil personnel services and establish qualifications for a “school occupational therapist.” On the surface, this appears to be a step forward in recognizing the value of OT beyond special education, but a closer examination reveals significant gaps. With no attached funding, no mandate for service expansion, and a reliance on bureaucratic implementation, this bill risks being more symbolic than substantive. Given the political climate of shifting federal education funding to the states, it’s worth asking: Is this bill a real investment in student services, or is it just another unfunded directive that leaves schools scrambling? One of the biggest blind spots in A.5474—and in occu...