Occupational Therapy for Treating Autism
Your child may benefit from occupational therapy if they have difficulty performing their play, education, self-care, or everyday life functions.
Our occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help children participate in the activities they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Common occupational therapy interventions at TDLC focus on helping children with disabilities to increase their participation in home, school, and social situations.
Our Occupational Therapy Programs
One-On-One Guidance
We provide individualized evaluations with your child (and family) where one of our occupational therapists can help determine your child's overall goals, helping craft a program plan that best suits their needs.
A Plan to Succeed
By utilizing customized intervention plans, we can improve your child's ability to perform daily activities in order to reach their daily milestones.
Individualized Goal Management
Ongoing evaluations will be performed so that we can continuously evolve and improve the intervention plan, ensuring your child's’ progress and goals are being met.
How Our Program Helps Your Child
Self Care Skills - dressing, self-feeding, personal hygiene and grooming.
Fine Motor Development - handwriting, grasping, cutting, shoe tying, in-hand manipulation, fine motor dexterity and coordination.
Gross Motor Development - improve motor planning, hand-eye coordination, strength, endurance and balance.
Play Exploration and Participation - pretend play, games with rules, constructive play, play skills with peers.
Safety and Body Awareness - following directions and improving attention.
Sensory Processing and Regulation - controlling feelings, emotions, and behavior.
Does My Child Need Occupational Therapy
The following are some developmental milestones for early childhood, listed by age. While every child develops at his or her own pace, general milestones can serve as a guide to typical development — and help doctors and other health professionals determine when a child might need extra help.
6-8 Months
- Sit unsupported
- Poke finger into hole of a peg board
- Crumple paper with palms
- Roll from back to stomach
- Bang a cup on the table
12-14 Months
- Open a book
- Place 3 pegs in a pegboard
- Creep up 2 steps on hands and knees
- Makes at least 1 scribble (more than 1 inch) on paper
2-2.5 Years
- String 2-4 beads
- Remove screw-on lid from bottle
- Cut paper in one place
- Imitate ball thrown underhand/overhand 7 feet before hitting the ground
3-3.5 Years
- Unbutton 3 buttons
- Draw a circle and a cross
- Trace a horizontal line
- Lace 3 shoelace holes
- Catch an 8 inch ball with arms extended
Getting Your Child Started with Occupational Therapy
If you are interested in occupational therapy services or have any questions, give us a call or send us an email to set up an appointment for an OT evaluation. Our Occupational Therapists will conduct an evaluation to determine the need, nature, and/or severity of your child's concerns. Upon completion, the evaluation will be explained to the parent, including recommendations for therapy and at-home practice.
Some of the information on this page can also be found at: http://www.aota.org.
