What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy is a branch of occupational science that focuses on the use of occupations to improve and maintain health, well-being, and quality of life in individuals with disabilities. It involves helping people develop skills needed to perform daily activities independently or with minimal assistance from others.

The goal of occupational therapy is to help people achieve their highest level of functioning possible. This can be done by adapting tasks or learning strategies with activities of daily living such as cooking, house tasks, eating, using the toilet, getting dressed or accessing the community.

An occupational therapist also works with young adults who have developmental delays or disorders, such as autism. They may also review a students sensory processing needs to support sensory regulation and therefore occupational engagement. Each of our therapists is trained to assess an individual’s abilities and skills.

Do children with autism need an OT?

Occupational therapy can also benefit young people with autism in other ways. It can help them develop motor skills by teaching them how to balance and move their body, use tools and equipment, and gain strength. This helps to improve coordination and dexterity while reducing the risk of injury.

Occupational therapists also provide sensory integration techniques that help autistic students learn how to respond appropriately in different situations.

How does occupational therapy work?

Occupational therapy uses many different methods to help those with autism learn new skills. Some examples include:

• Developing daily living skills

• Helping people learn how to engage in hobbies and meaningful occupations

• Develop strategies to support sensory regulation

• Developing strategies to cope with stress

• Support 24-hour posture management

• Learning how to live more independently

How InFocus can help

At InFocus, we provide occupational therapy services to students who with disabilities such as vision impairment, autism and other complex needs. Our staff ensure that these students receive the assistance they require to achieve their full potential.

Our occupation therapists support individuals with autism and other complex needs, across the eight core areas of occupation:

• Personal activities of daily living (PADLs) – this includes daily living skills such as eating, bathing, showering, grooming, personal hygiene and mobility.
• Domestic activities of daily living (DADLs) – activities related to daily tasks and home management, such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, laundry, and gardening.
• Rest and Sleep – supporting posture management throughout a student’s 24-hour day.
• Education – aims to support our young people with learning strategies, academic skills, communication and language development.
• Work – includes supporting our young people with employment opportunities, job training and work experience.
• Play – focuses on play and leisure activities, social interaction, sensory regulation and creative expression.
• Leisure – supports our young people with recreational activities, hobbies, sports and physical activity.
• Social participation – promotes social inclusion, family activities and friendships.

In addition to providing occupational therapy services, we offer a range of therapies designed to meet the specific needs of young people with autism and other complex needs. These include speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, mobility training and more.

We aim to create positive experiences for our clients through therapeutic interventions that promote independence and enhance their ability to communicate and participate in everyday life.

How does occupational therapy benefit young people with autism?

Autistic children often struggle with social interactions. They find it difficult to communicate with others, especially those around them. Occupational therapy helps them develop better social skills so they can enjoy interacting with others. It also helps to build independence and confidence in themselves.

For example, occupational therapy can help autistic students learn to use public transport. It teaches them how to get on and off buses, trains and trams safely and independently. It also gives them practice at communicating with strangers, which will make them feel less anxious when travelling.

In addition to improving social skills, occupational therapy can help students with autism become more independent. For instance, it can help them learn to dress themselves, brush their teeth, eat meals, prepare simple meals, and take care of personal hygiene.

It can also help them learn to live independently in the community. This includes learning to manage money and pay bills, shop for groceries, cook simple meals, and clean up after themselves.

Occupational Therapy can support students manage their sensory regulation by identify strategies which make the student feel ‘calm and grounded’ and ‘alert and awake’ to engage in education and embed a sensory diet throughout their academic day.

If you have any questions about our occupational therapy services, please get in touch with us at enquiries@infocus-charity.org.uk.