WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY? 

Occupational Therapy is a health service that is concerned with an individual's ability to participate in desired daily life tasks, or "occupations," which give one's life meaning. If a person's ability to perform these tasks which include caring for one's self or others, working, going to school, playing, and living independently is impacted by an illness, disease, and/or disability, occupational therapy can be important. 

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY FOR CHILDREN

 Following an evaluation of a child’s functioning in various age-appropriate performance areas, or life tasks, occupational therapy intervention is targeted towards those areas that are interfering with the ability to function. Intervention with children is often in the form of play activities specifically designed to facilitate and support the child's self- help, play, and learning skills. 

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY FOR TEENS

Occupational therapy can help the teenager maintain and develop skills related to independence in personal, social, academic, and vocational pursuits.

Occupational therapy can be of particular assistance in aiding teens and young adults to achieve their greatest possible potential for independence when leaving the education system.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY FOR ADULTS

Because occupational therapy is concerned with helping each person to be as independent as possible in daily life activities, services can be useful to individuals of any age. Ideally, occupational therapy would be a part of the continuum of care, meaning that consultation would be sought any time the person with autism demonstrates difficulty in managing daily life tasks.

In the case where the individual did not receive occupational therapy as a child or at the time of initial diagnosis, services can still be helpful in identifying the person's skill level and potential for improvement. A key component of an occupational therapy program is working closely with the client, family members, and other health professionals.