April 12, 2017

by: Christine Mencini

“Did You Know?” Occupational Therapy (OT) Facts

• The role of occupational therapy, as defined by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), is to “help people of all ages participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations).”

• LeafBridge currently has nine Occupational Therapists (OTs) and seven Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTAs).

• Therapy programs at LeafBridge serve infants and children up to age 22 with a wide variety of developmental delays and disabilities.

• Occupational Therapy assists with functional skills across all environments, such as writing, dressing and hand/eye coordination.

• The primary roles of childhood are to play and to learn, so that is what OTs help children to do.

• In the LeafBridge clinical model, OTs work directly with family members and children towards independent participation in meaningful activities. OTs work with children to engage them at their fullest potential in any activity that is relevant to them and their families.

• In the school-based model, therapists work directly with the child and school personnel to promote independent participation in the classroom curriculum. The main goal in this setting is to help children engage at their full potential in all aspects of the school environment.

• Our school therapists cover Maple Heights City Schools, Warrensville Heights City Schools, Cuyahoga Heights City Schools, Maple Heights City Schools, Richmond Heights City Schools and Independence Schools.

• UCP’s Occupational and Physical Therapists work together in the Steps to Independence program which is a unique, intensive therapy approach that helps children with cerebral palsy and other neuro-muscular conditions achieve a higher level of functioning.

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