Occupational Therapy (OT)What is it?

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Why is it here?

What is OT?

“The therapeutic use of self-care, work, and play activities to increase independent function, enhance development, and prevent disability, and may include adaptations of task or environment to achieve maximum independence and to enhance quality of life” (AOTA, 1986)

What does all this mean?

It gives people the "skills for the job of living” necessary for independent and satisfying lives.

In the school setting OT’s are part of an educational team which looks at a child’s ability to function in the school environment

OT services include

Daily living skills - self care, feeding, dressing, mobility, or grooming

School related skills - posture, participation in special area classes, using scissors, rulers, pencils/crayon, handwriting, attention, math manipulatives and other fine motor tasks, copying, organizing, etc.

Play skills - using playground equipment, socially acceptable play with others, being able to choose at free free playtime.

OT Focus Sensory motor Neuromuscular Motor Cognitive Psychosocial

OT Areas

Classroom Hallway Lunch room Playground Special area class Bus

The Process

Identification Referral Screening Assessment Intervention Consultation Discharge

OT’s in the schools

OT’s and school districts are finding innovated and creative ways to integrate occupational therapy expertise across the educational environment.

Some of these include:• Curriculum and program development• School health and safety• Violence prevention programs• And many more