OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
PROMOTING FUNCTIONAL INDEPENDENCE IN EVERYDAY LIVING
Occupational Therapy is a profession that promotes health and well-being through occupation (self-care, school/productivity, play/leisure). Occupational Therapists (OT's) are the 'jack of all trades' in Allied Health, skilled in assessing motor skills, cognitive skills, sensory processing skills, social skills, behaviour and emotional regulation. OT's promote functional independence and engagement in meaningful occupations for each person to have a better quality of life!
Occupational Therapists view health in a holistic, client-centered way. This means that we consider the whole picture (the Person, the Environment, the Occupation, and the task Performance). OT's also focus on the goals that are important to you and your child. If it's important to you, it's important to us!
Our OT's work with both the child and the family to promote greater transferability of skills and knowledge, and ultimately successful achievement of therapy goals!
Early intervention
Early childhood (Birth to 5 years) is a critical period in which the foundation of learning and development occurs. Recent research shows that the greatest brain development (generation of brain cells or "neurons and glial cells") occurs from before birth to 3 years of age. While genetics play an initial role for brain development, a child's experiences and interactions with the world further shape the development of their cognitive, social–emotional, sensory processing, motor, and self-care skills, and independent living outcomes in later years.
Early Intervention (EI) or sometimes called Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) is a term used to describe services and supports provided to a child who has a disability or developmental delay during this peak period of brain development (birth to 5 years). The earlier a child's disability or delay is identified and the sooner specialised supports are provided, the more likely (and sooner) improvements are achieved as a result of the brain's ability to build and form strong neural connections in the early years of childhood.
Occupational Therapy intervention provided early in life, particularly during the first few years of childhood, can lessen the effects of disability and promote improvements across all areas of development including social, emotional, cognitive, motor, sensory-motor, self-care and independence skills. Occupational therapists have a long history of working with infants and young children with disabilities and developmental delays. Interventions have been proven to be most effective in the child's natural environment (e.g. home), and a combined clinic-based approach with parent-implemented home program strategies has been shown to promote significant developmental growth.
Occupational therapy emphasis on family-centered approaches; expertise in how to promote children’s play and functional performance; and focus on the interactions among children, their occupations, and their environments position occupational therapists as vital members of early intervention teams.
The primary goals of early intervention is to:
1. Enhance the development of infants and toddlers with disabilities or developmental delays
2. Reduce education costs
3. Improve outcomes for children (e.g. increase the potential for independent living)
4. Enhance the capacity of families to meet their children's needs.
(Bailey et al., 1998).
Sweet Sprouts
Little Buds
Blooms
Infants (0-12 months)
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Toddlers (1-3 years)
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Preschoolers (3-5 years)
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