Occupation Therapy (OT):-

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What Is Occupation Therapy?

Occupational therapy (OT) helps people work on cognitive, physical, social, and motor skills. The goal is to improve everyday skills which allow people to become more independent and participate in a wide range of activities.

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For people with autism, OT programs often focus on play skills, learning strategies, and self-care. OT strategies can also help to manage sensory issues.

 

The occupational therapist will begin by evaluating the person's current level of ability. The evaluation looks at several areas, including how the person:

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• Learns.

• Plays.

• Cares for themselves.

• Interacts with their environment.

 

The evaluation will also identify any obstacles that prevent the person from participating in any typical day-to-day activities.

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Based on this evaluation, the therapist creates goals and strategies that will allow the person to work on key skills. Some examples of common goals include:

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• Independent dressing.

• Eating.

• Grooming.

• Using the bathroom.

• Fine motor skills like writing, coloring, and cutting with scissors.

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Occupational therapy usually involves half-hour to one-hour sessions. The number of sessions per week is based on individual needs.

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The person with autism may also practice these strategies and skills outside of therapy sessions at home and in other settings including school.

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Some OTs are specifically trained to address feeding and swallowing challenges in people with autism. They can evaluate the particular issue a person is dealing with and provide treatment plans for improving feeding-related challenges.

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Who provides Occupational Therapy?

A licensed Occupational Therapist (OT) provides OT services. He/she has a master’s degree and has passed a national certification exam (The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, or NBCOT).

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In some cases, therapy services are provided by an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA). This is a person with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, who is trained and supervised by a certified OT. The assistant works directly with the person with autism to practice skills and work towards goals that are written by the OT in the clinical treatment plan.

 

Is it covered by insurance?

Yes, occupational therapy is often covered by health insurance. In some cases, a doctor must state that the therapy is medically necessary for health insurance to provide coverage.

 

Students can also receive occupational therapy as part of their Individualized Education Program (IEP) at school. OT is often written into IEPs as a related service and includes goals that are related to learning. Occupational therapy services are provided at no cost to families when they are included in the IEP. Young children can receive occupational therapy through their Early Intervention program. Early intervention is offered in each state to children up to age 3 who are not growing and developing as quickly as expected. These services are free or low-cost based on your family income.

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Young children can receive occupational therapy through their Early Intervention program. Early intervention is offered in each state to children up to age 3 who are not growing and developing as quickly as expected. These services are free or low cost based on your family income.

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What questions to ask before beginning this treatment?

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