Philosophy
The purpose of childhood is to learn, explore, create, and play, but when an obstacle interferes with these areas of a child’s life, the child suffers and the parent suffers watching their child struggle to accomplish what may come very easily for other children. These obstacles are the cognitive, developmental, and/or physical deficits that are caused by multiple factors. There may be a diagnosis such as Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, and/or Autism, but many times “something” just isn’t right. A physician, family member, friend, or teacher may have recommended occupational therapy (OT).
The American Occupational Therapy Association states: “occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations).”
My role as an experienced occupational therapist is to find and focus on a child’s strength to help him/her overcome obstacles either by acquiring the necessary skills or by modifying the activity according to the identified strengths.
