What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapists often abbreviated as "OT" enable people to more efficiently and effectively participate in everyday life. The term occupation refers to how one uses or “occupies” their time purposefully in daily living. A child’s main occupation is playing, and learning social, cognitive and motor skills.
OTs work as part of a multidisciplinary team, which includes the teaching staff, other related service professionals and families to develop skills that lead to increased independence and classroom success. Through structuring or modifying the environment or activity, students can experience success that was previously unattainable. Children learn to work beyond previous limitations, taking risks with challenging opportunities in the classroom, home, and eventually work force.
The following list reflects some of the concerns which result in an occupational therapy referral in an educational setting: This list is not designed to be diagnostic tool, nor does it include all of the skill areas assessed within a school setting. Please discuss any concerns you have with your child's classroom teacher. Some children receive OT services because of below age-level abilities in:
- fine motor skills/coordination
- visual-perception
- visual/perceptual-motor skills
- sensory processing skills
- organization of self and materials/ staying on task/ attention
- social skills/ peer relations
- oral motor skills/coordination