Occupational Therapy (OT)

          What is Occupational Therapy (OT)?  OT is a profession concerned with a person’s ability to participate in desired life activities or “occupations”.  In schools Occupational Therapist (OTs) use their unique expertise to help children prepare for and perform learning and school related activities to fulfill their roll as students.  These occupations may include:  daily living skills such as self-care, feeding, dressing, mobility and grooming; school related tasks such as posture, participation in special area classes, using scissors, rulers, and pencils/crayons, handwriting, attention, math manipulatives and other fine motor tasks, copying, and organizing; play skills such as using playground equipment, socially acceptable play with others, being able to choose at free play time.  OTs focus on sensory motor, neuromuscular, motor, cognitive, and psychosocial skills in the classroom, hallway, lunchroom, bus, playground, and special area classes.  OTs may address these skills using both remedial techniques and preventative techniques.  If you have any questions or concerns about OT at your school please feel free to contact me at 525-6301 or visit the American Occupational Therapy Association at www.aota.org