Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
- What is occupational therapy?
- How do I get my child occupational therapy services?
- How can I help my child at home?
What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy is therapy based engagement in meaningful activities of
daily life (as self-care skills, education, work, or social interaction);
especially to enable or encourage participation in such activities despite
impairments or limitation in physical or mental functioning.
How do I get my child occupational therapy services?
Occupational therapy (OT) is a related service under Part B of the Individuals
With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and is provided to help a student with
a disability to benefit from special education. As such, OT is a supportive
service. If your child has a disability, as defined by IDEA, and needs
special education and related services to meet unique learning needs, then
he/she might be eligible for OT services. Your child must be eligible for
special education before being considered for OT services in the schools under
IDEA. Eligibility for special education does not mean automatic eligibility
for related services, including OT. The final determination is made by the
multidisciplinary team in concert with the OT evaluation.
How can I help my child at home?
There are several ways to help your child at home. Here is a list of some
activities that are fun and can help your child.
Fine Motor
1. Pop bubble wrap
2. Finding objects in silly putty
3. Placing cloths pins on can using three jaw chuck grasp
4. string beads
5. lacing cards
6. Ants in the Pants game
7. Legos
8. Playdoh
9. Picking up pennies or beads a placing in container through a slit on the lid
10. Picking up blocks with tongs
11. Picking up beads with tweezers
12. Sucking up colored water with eye dropper and having your child design a
picture with colored water
Visual Perceptual
1. Puzzles
2. Word Searches
3. Mazes
4. Copying building objects from blocks
5. Using slant board or three ring binder when writing
Body Awareness Activites
1. Mr. Potato Head
2. Drawing self portraits
3. Playing Simon Says
4. Singing Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
Gross motor
1. Wheel barrel race
2. Crawling through tunnels
3. Obstacle courses (Also great for motor planning)
4. Walking on a balance beam
5. Jumping on trampoline
6. Animal Walking (i.e. bear walk, crab walk, etc)
