OT with Autism

Hi Readers,

Autism is a development mental disorder that many people know about, but many people don’t know what the child or adult with Autism go through to try to live a normal life. This is where occupational therapists come in. I know I have talked about this a lot in my other posts, but this is what they do! They help individuals try to perform everyday tasks to the best of their abilities and patients with autism are no different. OTs with together with the patient, families, caregivers, teachers, and coworkers to ensure everyone understands the needs of the patient. The OT helps “people with autism adjust tasks and conditions to match their needs and abilities” (AOTA).

As in OT in this particular area of practice, they can work in hospitals, schools, perform at home therapy, and nursing care facilities. Also in some communities they have facilities for individuals with disabilities to come and be with others like themselves where the OT could work. Obviously people with autism are of all ages so there is a range of patients you could work with as well. The OT performs a variety of tasks and therapies with the patient that is unique to them and the type of services they require.

I hope you found this information useful and informative about occupational therapists working with patients who have autism. Even though this is my last blog for the class I made it for, I hope to continue posting and informing you more on other areas a degree in occupational therapy could take you!!

Thanks for reading!

Megan

References:

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2011). Occupational therapy's role with autism. Retrieved from https://www.aota.org/~/media/Corporate/Files/AboutOT/Professionals/WhatIsOT/CY/Fact-Sheets/Autism%20fact%20sheet.pdf