21-27 October is OT week and we’re sharing real-life stories of how occupational therapy for autistic children can change lives.

Today, we share how Taylor, one of our experienced OTs and Adaptability Therapy’s Deputy Paediatric OT Lead, used a combination of clinic-based therapy and telehealth parent coaching to make a difference for an autistic child and their family.

Alex is a 10-year-old autistic boy who was struggling with burnout and only attending school for a few hours a day. Taylor supported Alex with face-to-face therapy and provided coaching to his mum via telehealth.

How does occupational therapy for autistic children differ?

While psychologists typically focus on emotional and behavioural interventions, OTs bring a unique perspective to providing occupational therapy for autistic children. They focus on the child’s strengths and their relationship with their environment, like the sensory challenges that may arise in school settings, and create practical strategies for everyday tasks.

For Alex, Taylor considered his sensory profile, classroom setup, and interactions with teachers, helping to ensure his school environment was more manageable for him.

The telehealth coaching sessions allowed Taylor to support Alex’s mum in real-time, helping her develop strategies to address behaviours at home. In this way, Alex was supported to transition from attending school for just a few hours to a full day; and mum’s confidence increased in helping support Alex’s challenges at home.

How has working with an OT helped Alex?

Here’s what Alex’s mum had to say about the impact of working with Taylor

“Working with our wonderful OT has given me the skills I need to feel more in control. I’ve learned so many great strategies and feel much more confident helping my child when they are dysregulated. Our family unit is much calmer and more equipped to deal with life’s challenges. Our OT has also helped immensely with sibling bonds and fostering a connection between neurodiverse siblings. We couldn’t ever imagine this would be such a huge success. Our OT has helped my child manage their daily life in so many fantastic ways. School attendance has improved dramatically, and my child is much happier and calmer on a daily basis. We couldn’t have made this much progress without our lovely OT. Thank you!”

With ongoing and tailored occupational therapy, Alex now attends full school days, and his mum feels confident managing at-home challenges. This progress highlights how a combination of in-person and telehealth services can make a huge impact on the child and the entire family unit.

Sharing more occupational therapy stories during OT Week!

Stay tuned for more stories of OT in action, and to learn how OTs transform lives in schools, homes, and beyond! We’ll list these stories and more resources below as the week progresses!

In the meantime, if you’re seeking occupational therapy for autistic children please reach out