The role of occupational therapy and music therapy in the school context

a field study with kindergarten and elementary teachers in belo horizonte

Abstract

The present study investigates the work of Occupational Therapy and Music Therapy in the school context of the city of Belo Horizonte through exploratory research carried out over interviews. For that, an online survey was developed to be answered by kindergarten and elementary school teachers. A total of 134 public and private schools were randomly selected and contacted by phone. Communication with teachers and dissemination of the research was the responsibility of interested schools. In all, 56 interviews from 18 different schools were obtained and analyzed. From the results, it was possible to observe the teachers interest in the participation of these professionals in the school and their view on the possible contributions of this line of work. However, few institutions have these professionals on their staff. The answers were analyzed and discussed, pointing out the importance of these areas for more inclusive education and better conditions for the students.