What is occupational therapy (OT)?

Pediatric occupational therapists are experts in utilizing various strategies to teach daily life skills, motor development, adaptive skills, self-regulation and sensory needs, as well as social participation. Children who have challenges in any of these areas can benefit from Occupational Therapy. JoyBridge Kids Occupational Therapists and Assistant Occupational Therapists (COTAs) develop and implement individualized care plans for learners to supplement their Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy in our Early Excellence Program.

Occupational therapy services typically include:

• Annual individualized evaluation, during which the child’s strengths and challenges are assessed and the learner/family and occupational therapist determine the child’s goals
• A customized Plan of Care to improve the child’s ability to perform daily occupations and reach their goals
• Weekly, one-on-one direct therapy with the OT or COTA and RBT to implement the child’s Plan of Care
• Additional Feeding Therapy sessions, as needed and based on evaluation
• Ongoing collaboration with the child’s entire therapy team and family to promote the child’s development, ensure that the goals are being mastered, and/or make changes to the Plan of Care, as needed

Occupational therapists focus on the following areas for growth, in collaboration with our BCBA’s and SLP’s:

• Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
• Motor proficiency and motor coordination
• Visual-perceptual and visual-spatial skills
• Fine motor skills
• Gross motor skills
• Sensory processing
• Feeding skills and Feeding Therapy
• Executive functioning
• Social skills
• Play skills
• Emotional Regulation