Role of Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy focuses on the skills each child needs for their life, across the environments where they spend time: school, home and in the community. Barriers to accessing typical experiences are overcome by modifying the task or environment, or teaching new skills, step by step. When working with children with significant motor disabilities, the OT brings knowledge of activity analysis to break down tasks into component parts, and to identify what underlying skills and/or adaptations are needed for greater independence and inclusion.
Assistive Technology Use
Occupational Therapy for children with neurological impairment due to cerebral palsy or hemiplegia focuses on motor skills development and functional skills. When motor limitations are severe, the focus is often on Assistive Technology for self-care and participation in leisure skills with family and in the community. Our therapist is skilled in fine motor development of hand skills, and in using technology to maximize function while minimizing the demands for muscle strength and control.
Oregon Technology Access Program (OTAP) has a loan program for switches and software and other adaptive equipment to trial before purchase.
Click here for their website.
Corvallis Children’s Therapy also has adaptive equipment including a variety of switches and single switch software to loan to families and to use in training.
Developing Life Skills
Corvallis Children’s Therapy Occupational therapy services include fine motor skill development for hand function, sensory processing support for a range of environments, and motor skills learning for leisure and occupational tasks.
Family-driven Individual Goals
At Corvallis Children’s Therapy, goal setting for individuals is family-driven, according to the interests, priorities and daily realities of the individual and the family. Skill building starts where the individual is functioning and builds capacity from there, with support to families for additional opportunities as the skills advance.
Splinting for Wrist and Hand
Our facility and therapist can assist with splinting needs, including modifying splints for growth or repairing damaged or worn splints, as well as moulding custom splints.