Occupational Therapy in school plays a very important role, above all, meant to enhance a student’s ability to successfully function in their educational environment.
What is the Role of Occupational Therapy in School?
When children have difficulties in development of certain skills at an appropriate level for their age, often a teacher or a primary care physician will recommend occupational therapy for this student. As a standard, occupational therapists focus on the skills of daily living. In a school setting, the focus is on assisting and guiding children of all ages and abilities to be successful at school, for example. An occupational therapist will observe and evaluate a student in the school setting in order to put together an effective treatment plan. Occupational therapists will coordinate with teachers and parents to better help the child succeed with everyday activities
What skills can an OT help a child with?
Blue Mountain Therapy’s occupational therapists will help teach children how to overcome a wide variety of challenges while at school. Whether it be carrying their lunch tray, helping them have the tools available to help increase their attention in class, alternative seating, handwriting , and so much more. Most importantly, our job is to make children as successful in school as possible. We use measurable improvements to equip children with autonomy to become confident and increase independence. For example, occupational therapists assist students with tasks like:
- Fine Motor Function: working with the student to strengthen and develop fine motor functions like holding a pencil correctly, cutting with scissors, keyboarding, etc.
- Organizational Skills: helping a student with the skills to get assignments done on time through executive functioning skill building.
- Self-Care Skills: increasing independence of appropriate self-care skills, such as toileting, dressing, feeding, teeth cleaning, etc through routines, adaptive equipment and fine motor therapies
- Social Participation: Engaging in activities and roles on a community, family, or peer/friend level
Could my child benefit from occupational therapy?
If you have concerns about your child’s skills of daily living, sensory issues, fine motor skills, or executive functioning development, please talk to your doctor to ask for a referral to Blue Mountain Therapy.
