Common Problems when Verbally Reporting Evaluation Results

·        Reading straight from the evaluation report rather than summarizing

·        Reporting too lengthy, losing the listeners attention and monopolizing limited meeting time

·        Reporting with jargon rather than lay terms making it difficult for others to understand

·        Too much time spent on test scores and performance components and not enough spent explaining how school participation is impacted (occupational performance)

·        Focusing only on the student’s problems and not discussing how the strengths can help in compensating for difficulties

·        Not attending meetings or leaving meetings early before the team has determined needs areas, developed the IEP and determined services needed.

“Dos” for Verbally Reporting Evaluation Results

·        Be aware of non-verbal communication

·        Listen to and acknowledge perspective of others

·        Be confident, clear and concise

·       Summarize – be aware of time constraints (a summary captures all the most important parts of the original, but expresses them in a much shorter amount of time.)

·        Keep the focus on the student

·        Include ‘positives’, e.g. student strengths, and practical strategies that will help success

·        Be open to and participate in team process

·        If OT is on IEP, describe expected course of service (begin with the end in mind)

·        Use ‘participation’ when explaining potential OT role

·        Use OTPF terminology in an understandable way