What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy (OT) helps people work on cognitive, physical, social, and motor skills. The goal is to improve the daily skills that allow people to become more independent and participate in a wide range of activities.
For people with autism, occupational therapy programs often focus on play skills, learning strategies, and self-care. OT strategies can also help manage sensory issues

An occupational therapist will begin by assessing the ability level of the current person. The evaluation looks at several areas, including how a person works

  • Learn
  • Play
  • Take care of themselves
  • It interacts with their environment

  • The evaluation will also identify any obstacles that prevent the person from participating in any typical daily activities.


    Based on this evaluation, the therapist establishes goals and strategies that will allow the person to work on basic skills. Some examples of shared goals include:

  • Independent bandage
  • Eating food
  • Luring
  • Use of the bathroom
  • Fine motor skills such as writing, coloring and cutting with scissors

Occupational therapy usually includes sessions lasting half an hour to one hour. The number of sessions per week depends on individual needs A person with autism may also practice these strategies and skills outside of therapy sessions at home and in other settings including school.

Some OTs are specifically trained to address the challenges of feeding and swallowing in people with autism. They can assess the specific problem a person is dealing with and offer treatment plans to improve nutrition-related challenges.

Learn more about autism and nutrition issues?

A licensed Occupational Therapist (OT) provides OT services. He / she holds a master’s degree and has passed the national certification exam (National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, or NBCOT).
Additionally, OTs must obtain a license in their state. You can find out more on the American Occupational Therapy Association website.
In some cases, treatment services are provided by an occupational therapy assistant (OTA). This is someone with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, who is trained and supervised by a certified OT. The assistant works directly with the autistic person to practice the skills and work towards the goals written by the OT in their clinical treatment plan

Switch to Arabic