Occupational Therapy for Children With Autism

Building independence in everyday life

In occupational therapy, an “occupation” is any activity that fills a child’s day: playing, eating, getting dressed, drawing, going to school and taking part in family life. The American Occupational Therapy Association describes occupational therapy as helping people of all ages participate in the things they want and need to do in daily life.

For children with autism, occupational therapy (OT) often focuses on motor skills, sensory processing and self-care — the building blocks of independence.

What occupational therapy can help with

• Fine motor skills — grasping, using utensils, buttons and zippers, cutting, drawing and early handwriting
• Gross motor and coordination — balance, body awareness and motor planning for play and daily tasks
• Sensory processing — understanding how your child responds to sound, touch, movement, taste and other input, and building strategies that help them feel regulated
• Self-care — dressing, brushing teeth, handwashing, toileting routines and mealtimes
• Play and participation — joining play, trying new activities and handling school routines

Understanding sensory differences

Many autistic children experience the world’s sights, sounds, textures and movement differently. A child might cover their ears at the sound of a hand dryer, refuse certain clothing, or constantly seek movement by jumping and spinning. An occupational therapist can help you understand your child’s sensory profile and plan routines and environments that work with it. Our parent’s guide to sensory processing and autism covers this in more depth.

What to expect

1. Evaluation. The occupational therapist observes your child, talks with you about daily routines and identifies strengths and needs.
2. Goals. Together you choose goals that matter to your family, such as dressing independently or tolerating a haircut.
3. Sessions. Therapy is active and play-based, using activities your child enjoys.
4. Home strategies. You receive practical ideas to practice between sessions.
5. Progress review. Goals are updated as your child builds skills.

OT, ABA and speech working together

Occupational therapy can complement ABA therapy and speech and language therapy. For example, an OT may help a child feel regulated enough to participate, while ABA teaches the steps of a routine and speech therapy supports the words to ask for help. Read more in our article on occupational therapy for autism.

Getting started

To find out whether occupational therapy could help your child, request a free consultation or call (714) 709-7819. We will explain the process and help you understand what your insurance requires.