Learning Diversity

What does an Occupational Therapist do?

Occupational therapists :

• help children work on fine motor skills so they can grasp and release toys and develop good handwriting skills
• address hand–eye coordination to improve play and school skills (hitting a target, batting a ball, copying from a blackboard, etc.)
• help children with severe developmental delays learn basic tasks (such as bathing, getting dressed, brushing their teeth, and feeding themselves)
• help children with behavioral disorders maintain positive behaviors in all environments (e.g., instead of hitting others or acting out, using positive ways to deal with anger, such as writing about feelings or participating in a physical activity)
• teach children with physical disabilities the coordination skills needed to feed themselves, use a computer, or increase the speed and legibility of their handwriting
• evaluate a child's need for specialized equipment, such as wheelchairs, splints, bathing equipment, dressing devices, or communication aids
• work with children who have sensory and attention issues to improve focus and social skills

If you would like to contact an Occupational Therapist go to

https://www.otaus.com.au/find-an-occupational-therapist