The Occupational Therapist (OT) at the CDC works with families to help their children do their best in all their day-to-day activities.

About the program

The Occupational Therapists at the CDC can help children from birth to school entry age and their families with:

• Developing daily living skills including eating, dressing, toileting, bathing, grooming and sleep
  Developing fine motor/hand skills or visual-perceptual skills
• Understanding and supporting a child’s sensory processing differences
• Supporting emotional and nervous system regulation challenges
• Developing sensory-motor strategies to help with coordination, body awareness, regulation, and social interaction
• Developing their play skills with objects, with imagination, and with people
• Supporting cognition and executive functioning for safe behaviour and problem solving
• Understanding the impacts of trauma, mental health, and neurodivergence on the brain and nervous system and developing strategies to support progress towards family goals.
• Accessing specialized equipment for optimal positioning and functional skills such as feeding seats, specialized utensils, wheelchairs, bath chairs, adaptive strollers, and access to play/technology.

The OT may provide services through consultation with parents, caregivers, and other team members, individual/group therapy, as well as visits to the home, daycare, and/or preschool.

As a first step the OT may:

• Ask you to share knowledge of your child’s development, their strengths and areas of challenge.
• Observe your child in everyday activities.
• Play with your child.
• Complete developmental checklists.
• Use standardized assessments in selected skill areas.