Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy minimises the impact of disease and disability through the use of purposeful activity. As a member of the multi-disciplinary team, the occupational therapist will assess your child's abilities and potential within the context of your family's physical and psychosocial environment.

Areas assessed may include:

• motor skills (hand function in particular)
• seating and postural management
• self-care skills
• visual perceptual skills
• access to home and school environment
• home equipment needs
• pain and sensory issues.

Alongside these, other areas which will be assessed include:

• problem solving barriers to enable participation in daily activities
• using activity as a therapeutic tool
• adapting the environment to maximise your child's ability to engage in activities
• adapting the activity to permit your child to participate. 

Intervention may include loaning your child a seating system or wheelchair while they are an inpatient, providing hand splints to prevent contractures and advising on maximizing your child's ability to participate in daily activities.