Occupational therapy (OT) helps children with autism build the practical skills they need to live happier, healthier lives. Find out what OT is and how it can transform your child’s quality of life at home and school.
Occupational therapy is a highly effective treatment for autism that uses personalized techniques and strategies to help children navigate their daily lives more easily and confidently.
Because they experience the world differently, children with autism often face unique challenges like sensory overload, difficulty with daily tasks, and struggles in social interactions.
These obstacles can make everyday activities at home and school feel overwhelming, not just for the child but for the whole family.
While other therapies like ABA therapy, speech therapy, or mental health counseling help autistic children with their development in important areas, they often don’t focus on practical, day-to-day skills that will improve their overall quality of life.
Occupational therapy fills in these gaps by giving children with autism the tools they need to participate in daily life more fully and independently.
At Education Alternatives in Ohio, we understand that OT is vital to a comprehensive autism treatment plan. That’s why we’ve incorporated occupational therapy into our autism programs, including our specialized Coral Autism Program. Through OT, we’ve seen our students achieve:
- Greater independence
- Clearer communication skills
- More confidence in social situations
- Improved sensory regulation
In this blog, we’ll explore what occupational therapy is, how it works, and how it can bring life-changing results for your child and your entire family.
What is occupational therapy for autism?
Occupational therapy (OT) helps people with challenges like autism, sensory issues, or physical disabilities learn skills and practice activities that make everyday tasks easier and more manageable.
OT is used to treat a wide range of conditions, both physical and mental, but it is widely recognized as one of the most common and effective therapies for autism treatment.
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neuro-developmental condition of the brain that impacts how a person understands and interacts with the world around them. It is estimated that 1 in 36 children in the United States are on the autism spectrum.
Autism often affects a child’s sensory processing and cognitive abilities, making it more difficult for them to manage everyday tasks or interactions.
Occupational therapy is so impactful for children with autism because it focuses on the specific challenges they face in daily life and teaches practical skills to overcome them.
To fully appreciate the benefits of OT for children with autism, it is essential to understand how autism shapes their everyday experiences.
Why is the role of occupational therapy in autism intervention so important?
Children with autism perceive and engage with everyday tasks and situations differently because autism impacts how the brain processes information.
Occupational therapy provides personalized treatment plans that include specific strategies to help children with autism overcome the challenges they face in their daily lives.
While no two people experience autism in the same way, many children struggle in these key areas:
- Sensory processing: Many children with autism are extra sensitive to sensory input. Bright lights, loud noises, or scratchy clothes can overwhelm them or lead to emotional outbursts.
- Daily self-care activities: Children with autism may take more time to learn everyday routines, like brushing their teeth or getting dressed.
- Social cues: Connecting with others, socializing, and picking up on social cues like facial expressions or tone of voice can be more challenging.
- Motor skills: Activities that require fine motor skills, like writing or buttoning a shirt, can be more difficult to master. Similarly, it may take a child with autism more time to develop skills requiring a lot of coordination, like climbing or running.
So, let’s find out exactly how OT and occupational therapists help children struggling in these areas.
What does an occupational therapist do for a child with autism?
Occupational therapists create a tailored intervention plan for a child based on their specific needs and developmental goals.
To do this, they must carefully observe the child to see how they interact with others and whether they can perform appropriate and expected tasks for their age group.
Through this observation, they will pay close attention to the following skills:
- Social: how the child interacts with others and manages their emotions.
- Communication: how the child expresses themselves verbally and non-verbally.
- Cognitive: how the child thinks, pays attention, and processes information.
- Sensory: how the child responds to stimuli.
- Motor: muscle movements and coordination used in everyday life.
With this information, occupational therapists will collaborate with the school, parents, and other professionals to set personalized development goals for the child and then implement specific techniques, therapies, or exercises to help accomplish them.
For example, a child with autism’s occupational therapy plan may include:
- Sensory integration therapy: Play-oriented or therapeutic activities that help the child process and respond to sensory input.
Self-care training: Learning step-by-step approaches to daily routines like using utensils or brushing teeth.
- Fine and gross motor skill development: Engaging in exercises like cutting shapes, obstacle courses, or dance can help improve agility and coordination.
- Social skills training: Role-playing or group activities that teach interaction and communication with others.
An occupational therapist may also recommend a daily plan, or “sensory diet,” for children with autism who are struggling with sensory processing disorders.
What is a sensory diet?
A sensory diet is a daily, personalized plan with targeted activities and adjustments to help children with sensory processing disorders feel regulated throughout the day.
They are a core aspect of occupational therapy for autism, and play a vital role in supporting children’s daily needs.
Occupational therapists create this plan as a guide for teachers, parents, and caretakers, outlining the types of sensory input a child needs to maintain a calm and balanced nervous system.
Every child’s sensory diet will look different, but will typically include:
A variety of activities to help get children moving when they are feeling under-stimulated or tired, like:
- Dancing
- Swimming
- Jumping
And sensory activities to help children calm down and regulate when they are experiencing sensory overload, like:
- Listening to calming sounds
- Looking at relaxing visuals, like those found in an autism sensory room
- Practicing breathing exercises
How exactly do these self-regulation practices help?
A sensory diet, and occupational therapy in general, help children with autism and sensory processing disorders learn how to manage and respond to sensory information in a structured, safe environment.
Why do sensory diets and occupational therapy work for sensory processing disorders?
Occupational therapy for sensory processing disorders uses targeted activities or techniques, such as sensory integration therapy, to slowly introduce children to certain stimuli. This helps the brain learn how to organize and respond to sensory input in a productive, healthy way.
This can be a game-changer for children with autism. Sensory overload often makes it hard for them to focus, especially in school, leading to frustration or behavioral challenges.
When children with autism understand and learn how to manage their reactions to sensory input, they feel more in control, and their nervous system becomes less overwhelmed.
With a balanced sensory system, they can improve their focus, behavior, and social skills, making school and everyday life at home more manageable and enjoyable.
Finding the right autism treatment for your child
Occupational therapy for autism has helped many children gain the essential skills they need to flourish in their daily lives.
However, since every child with autism is unique, it is crucial to explore and understand a wide variety of therapies and programs to find the best fit for your child’s needs.
Finding the right program can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone.
For over twenty years, Education Alternatives has been empowering children with autism to succeed through our specialized Coral Autism Program, offered at all eight of our locations across the greater Northeast Ohio area.
Our team understands that every child is different, and we want to help you find the perfect program for your child’s needs.
Contact us today to learn more about autism treatments, including occupational therapy, and explore our specialized programs tailored to support children on the autism spectrum.
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