April is not only Autism Awareness month, it is also Occupational Therapy month. Here are some ways that an occupational therapist can help individuals with autism and other needs:
- Evaluate an individual to determine whether he or she has accomplished developmentally appropriate skills needed in such areas as grooming and play and leisure skills.
- Provide interventions to help an individual respond to information coming through the senses. Intervention may include developmental activities, sensory integration or sensory processing, and play activities.
- Facilitate play activities that instruct as well as aid a child in interacting and communicating with others.
- Devise strategies to help the individual transition from one setting to another, from one person to another, and from one life phase to another.
- Collaborate with the individual and family to identify safe methods of community mobility.
- Identify, develop, or adapt work and other daily activities that are meaningful to enhance the individual’s quality of life
From American Association for Occupational Therapy (AOTA.org)