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Occupational Therapy

The focus of the Occupational Therapy Department is to promote independence in functional skills such as self-care, fine motor, and visual/perpetual skills. We address sensory integration, vision, safety, activities of daily living (e.g. showering, cooking, dressing, eating, modifications to work environment, energy conservation, and/or use of adaptive equipment). Through the use of therapeutic techniques and equipment, strategies are incorporated into all areas of a student’s program to promote self-regulation, calmness and body organization.

In its simplest terms and as defined by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.

Occupational therapy is a science-driven profession that applies the most up-to-date research to service delivery. Evidence supports the effectiveness of adding an occupational therapy practitioner to your patients’ or clients’ treatment plan. According to systematic reviews from AOTA’s Evidence-Based Practice Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines, evidence shows that the following occupational therapy interventions improve client outcomes. These interventions are used as part of a broad approach that considers the patient’s performance skills (motor, process, social interaction); activity demands; performance patterns (habits, routines, rituals, roles); and contexts and environments.