Occupational Therapy: The many benefits of OT and what parents need to know
“Every child develops at their own pace.” I have repeated this (absolutely true) statement countless times before, always in an effort to comfort a concerned friend or relative who is wondering why their child isn’t walking yet, talking yet, playing yet or reaching any number of milestones a parent will anxiously await when their kids are young. I’ve even said it to myself a few times. A parent’s job is to worry, right?
But what happens when it becomes apparent that “their own pace” is nowhere near that of other children their age? Words of comfort from a friend should be replaced by the advice of a professional, which is when the occupational therapist might come in.
We chatted with Nicole Benedicks, a school-based certified Occupational Therapist, who shared with us what the OT does and what a parent should expect if their child is starting this kind of therapy.
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What does an Occupational Therapist do?
Generally, occupational therapists work with people of all ages in a variety of settings to enhance or recover function, teach or modify a skill, or adapt a task or the environment to promote independence. Occupational therapy helps people live more independent lives and engage in everyday activities that are purposeful to them.
I work with children in a special education school environment (K-5) to support and enhance students’ school-based skills. I work with a team, which can include the teacher, speech therapist, and physical therapist, guidance counselor and/or social worker. I typically work with students 1:1 or in a small group to develop or enhance skills to help them function and be as independent as possible within the school environment. Areas of focus can include writing, cutting, dressing, feeding, visual perceptual skills (e.g. puzzles), and visual motor skills.
What is the difference between Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy?
There is a lot of overlap between the two professions. The most common assumption is that occupational therapists focus on the upper extremities and that physical therapists focus on the lower extremities, but that is not always the case. Both professions focus on the entire body and movement, but occupational therapy typically focuses on improving a person’s ability to engage in everyday activities, and evaluates limitations that might be affecting their daily performance. Physical therapy, on the other hand, focuses on movement, specifically a person’s physical abilities and limitations in their mobility, strength and range of motion, and evaluates their movement dysfunction.
How can you prepare your child for Occupational Therapy?
It is beneficial to start therapy immediately once you notice there is a problem or delay in development. When your child is very young there isn’t much you can do to prepare them for occupational therapy. However, if
therapy begins when your child is old enough to understand that they are meeting someone new, preparation will depend on your child’s age and level of cognition.
Typically, OT sessions include play activities, so explaining to your child that someone new will be coming to play with them may help to prepare for their session. I typically recommend having a child’s sessions scheduled for an optimal time of day where you would expect them to perform their best (i.e., not too tired, not overstimulated). Avoid allowing them to be engaged in a desired task (e.g., playing with a tablet, watching television) just before their scheduled session because removing the desired item can lead to a meltdown and your child may make a negative association with their therapist.
How long can treatment last?
The length of time a child receives treatment varies based on the child’s needs. Treatment can be on a consultative level where a child may not receive direct services and an OT can provide useful information and strategies that families can implement and use in their everyday lives. For children with more severe cognitive and/or physical deficits, treatment can last through childhood into adulthood.
What does treatment look like for a child who mildly needs OT versus a child who has a disability?
Typically, treatment for a child with mild delays focuses on specific areas of deficit and the OT will work to develop those problem areas to promote independence.
When a child has a more severe disability, an OT will typically work on a range of skills focusing on helping children play and learn in a purposeful way. When physical disabilities are involved, treatment can include strengthening tasks, fine motor muscle development, improving dexterity, and adapting a task or the environment so they can engage in tasks in a modified way.
What should a parent consider when selecting the right OT professional for their child?
I would recommend finding a therapist that works mostly with children, and more specifically, if your child has a diagnosis (e.g., autism, cerebral palsy), finding a therapist that has a lot of experience working with that population. You might want to schedule a “trial” session before making a decision to see how well your child responds to them.
You should also consider what works best for your family and your schedule. Children can be seen in their home, at school or in a clinic-based setting. Finding what works best for your child is really going to differ from one family to the next.
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Brooklyn
3858 Nostrand Ave. Suite #101, Brooklyn, NY
347-587-600
A Friendly Face understands the difficulties and frustration in finding professional assistance for your child. Their goal is to provide a highly skilled and trained behavior professional team to assist your child and family to acclimate to a life of loving and caring for someone on the autism spectrum.
101 East 56th Street, New York, NY
212-335-1293
Child Mind Institute provides a wide range of services for students with learning challenges. Services include comprehensive neuropsychological and academic evaluations, academic remediation for dyslexic students, writing and math interventions, and executive functioning training. Services are tailored to support children from early childhood through young adulthood.
247 East 20th St., New York, NY
212-239-4926
LearningSpring School, for students diagnosed on the autism spectrum, is accepting applications for immediate enrollment, as well as for the 2023-2024 school year. It is a wonderful place for children ages 4.9 to 14 to learn, to grow and to belong.
Bronx
247 East 20th St., New York, NY
212-239-4926
LearningSpring School, for students diagnosed on the autism spectrum, is accepting applications for immediate enrollment, as well as for the 2023-2024 school year. It is a wonderful place for children ages 4.9 to 14 to learn, to grow and to belong.
77-40 Vleigh Place, Kew Gardens
2826 Westchester Ave., Bronx
Steppingstone Day School, established in 1983, is a private, not for profit preschool program and evaluation site for children with and without special needs. Their mission is to provide collaborative evaluation, education, therapy and family support services so that young children can develop to their full potential and join with their families and friends as members of the community.
410 E. 92nd Street, New York, NY,
212-831-3667
The Gillen Brewer School is a 12-month, special education program located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, serving children ages 2.8 to 11 years old who have a wide variety of language-based and non-verbal learning disabilities. Their academic-therapeutic program includes speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, and social groups.
Long Island
114-20 Queens Blvd, Suite CS2, Forest Hills
180 East 79 St. Suite # 1C,
New York, NY
Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. is a group of neuropsychologists who work as a team to help you understand your child’s functioning, from cognitive, to academic to neurological. They can properly diagnose ADHD from a learning disability, and anxiety from autism. They use highly sensitive tests and include parent and teacher data to support assessments.
1400 Old Country Road, Westbury, NY
2341 New Hyde Park Road, New Hyde Park, NY
300 Garden City Plaza, Suite 350, Garden City, NY
1737 Veterans Memorial Highway, Islandia, NY
20 Riverleigh Avenue, Riverhead, NY
516 806-6969
Family of Kidz has been a leader in providing services to children for over 25 years, including Educational & Behavioral Services, Speech Therapy, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Mental Health Services. Our mission is to help all individuals reach their full potential.
Law Offices of Andrew M. Cohen, P.C.
1100 Franklin Avenue, Suite 305, Garden City
516-877-0595
The Law Offices of Andrew M. Cohen provides personalized, high quality special needs estate planning and special education legal services at a reasonable cost. Attorneys Cohen and Adler-Greene also conduct free workshops on several topics for agencies, schools, and parent groups.
718-939-0306
Family Speech Center uses certified Speech-Language Pathologists who are trained to evaluate and diagnose adults and children with specific speech, language or swallowing difficulties. Services include speech-language evaluations and treatment for individuals with articulation and stuttering problems. Assessment procedures depend on the age of the client; very small children are assessed in an informal play-based environment.
47 Humphrey Drive, Syosset
516-921-7171ext. 2126
Variety Child Learning Center at the Gallow School
72 Farmedge Road, Levittown
516-490-3301
Variety Child Learning Center provides evaluations, early intervention, special education (special classes, special classes in integrated settings, itinerant services), ABA, and Family Center Respite Program to more than 750 children (birth to 10) and families annually, and professional training. Approved and licensed by DOH, SED, OCFS and OPWDD.
30 Deforest Road, Dix Hills
631-779-2400
Winston Preparatory School Long Island is a leading school for students with learning differences, including dyslexia, ADHD, and nonverbal learning disorders. Learn more about their nationally recognized program at winstonprep.edu.
Manhattan
101 East 56th Street, New York, NY
212-335-1293
Child Mind Institute provides a wide range of services for students with learning challenges. Services include comprehensive neuropsychological and academic evaluations, academic remediation for dyslexic students, writing and math interventions, and executive functioning training. Services are tailored to support children from early childhood through young adulthood.
410 E. 92nd Street, New York, NY,
212-831-3667
The Gillen Brewer School is a 12-month, special education program located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, serving children ages 2.8 to 11 years old who have a wide variety of language-based and non-verbal learning disabilities. Their academic-therapeutic program includes speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, and social groups.
314 W. 91st Street, New York, NY
The IDEAL School of Manhattan is a small school that’s BIG on inclusion. It is NYC’s only K-12+ independent inclusion school. At IDEAL, they believe that differentiated learning is the key to academic excellence. They offer a supportive environment where all children are valued and celebrated. Contact [email protected] to learn more about their unique inclusion program.
247 East 20th St., New York, NY
212-239-4926
LearningSpring School, for students diagnosed on the autism spectrum, is accepting applications for immediate enrollment, as well as for the 2023-2024 school year. It is a wonderful place for children ages 4.9 to 14 to learn, to grow and to belong.
48 West 74th Street, New York, NY 10023
The Parkside School welcomes elementary school children from diverse ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds who have a range of language-based learning difficulties. The Parkside School serves the whole child by offering a thoughtfully designed, comprehensive array of academic and support services, and offers a 10 month and a 2 month summer program.
45 Park Avenue, Yonkers
520 Route 22, North Salem
33 Seymour St., Yonkers
914-376-4300
The Westchester School’s main campus is a year round, NY state approved special education day facility located in Yonkers NY. The school’s three locations serve individuals with autism and multiple handicaps as well as children who are medically fragile. In addition to serving Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess and Orange counties, they also support the Mid-Hudson area, New York City and Fairfield County, CT.
Queens
Autism Behavioral Consulting Services
Karen Bottalico, SAS, SDA
516- 851-8330
An Educational Consultant serving Queens and Long Island and the NY Metro area. Working directly with families, services include: Evaluating placement and service options; Accompanying parents throughout the entire CPSE or CSE process which includes meetings, screenings, observations and extensive education history reviews. Other services include Staff Training, School-Based Consultation, FBA Assessment and BIP Implementation, ABA and Verbal Behavior Training Techniques, Behavior Management Strategies, Home/School Intensive Behavior Intervention Services, Crisis Intervention and Prevention, Home-Based Services and Parent Education Training. Call for more information.
114-20 Queens Blvd, Suite CS2, Forest Hills
180 East 79 St. Suite # 1C,
New York, NY
Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. is a group of neuropsychologists who work as a team to help you understand your child’s functioning, from cognitive, to academic to neurological. They can properly diagnose ADHD from a learning disability, and anxiety from autism. They use highly sensitive tests and include parent and teacher data to support assessments.
410 E. 92nd Street,
New York, NY
212-831-3667
The Gillen Brewer School is a 12-month, special education program located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, serving children ages 2.8 to 11 years old who have a wide variety of language-based and non-verbal learning disabilities. Their academic-therapeutic program includes speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, and social groups.
247 East 20th St., New York, NY
212-239-4926
LearningSpring School, for students diagnosed on the autism spectrum, is accepting applications for immediate enrollment, as well as for the 2023-2024 school year. It is a wonderful place for children ages 4.9 to 14 to learn, to grow and to belong.
77-40 Vleigh Place,
Kew Gardens
2826 Westchester Ave., Bronx
Steppingstone Day School, established in 1983, is a private, not for profit preschool program and evaluation site for children with and without special needs. Their mission is to provide collaborative evaluation, education, therapy and family support services so that young children can develop to their full potential and join with their families and friends as members of the community.
718-939-0306
Family Speech Center uses certified Speech-Language Pathologists who are trained to evaluate and diagnose adults and children with specific speech, language or swallowing difficulties. Services include speech-language evaluations and treatment for individuals with articulation and stuttering problems. Assessment procedures depend on the age of the client; very small children are assessed in an informal play-based environment.
Westchester
Biondi Education Center
463 Hawthorne Ave., Yonkers
914-375-8969
risingground.org/program/biondi-elementary-school
Biondi’s nurturing setting and individualized therapeutic support help students build academic skills, grow self-esteem and learn to overcome frustration. At Biondi, evidence-based approaches allow students to continue their academic and emotional progress. Certified Teachers and Teaching Assistants, Clinical Psychologists, School Social Workers, Speech-Language Pathologist and an Occupational Therapist support students at their Elementary and Secondary Schools.Serving K-12.
16 North Broadway, Irvington
914-591-9330
The John Cardinal O’Connor School is a Catholic school dedicated to providing an affordable, language-based, academic curriculum for children in grades K-8 with mild Learning Disabilities (LD), Speech or Language Impairments (SPL), or other Health Impairments (OHI). Students are taught by certified special education teachers in small classes. Teachers utilize multisensory instructional techniques to help children succeed academically and socially.
Creative Wonders Therapy Center
470 Mamaroneck Ave, Suite 204, White Plains
101 South Bedford Rd Suite 404, Mt. Kisco
914-421-8270 ext. 2
914-373-6823 ext. 3
Creative Wonders is a pediatric therapy center with locations in both White Plains and Mt. Kisco. Seasoned occupational, physical, and speech therapists trained in specialties including sensory integration, PROMPT, Feeding, and evaluations including SIPT evaluations. Private speech and toddler rooms as well as a sensory gym! Strict cleaning guidelines and precautions as well as 75i True HEPA Air Purifiers in both locations.
311 North Street Suite 406, White Plains
914-898-5117
Family of Kidz has been a leader in providing services to children for over 25 years, including Educational & Behavioral Services, Speech Therapy, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Mental Health Services. Their mission is to help all individuals reach their full potential.
Campuses in Brewster & Carmel
845-279-2995
Green Chimneys School is an accredited special education program for students K-12 who benefit from a highly structured and supportive setting. An enriched curriculum for individualized academic, behavioral and emotional support features an innovative nature-based approach that integrates animal-assisted activities, horticulture and outdoor exploration into therapeutic treatment and education programs.
800 Westchester Avenue, S-436, Rye Brook,
914-684-2100
Littman Krooks Special Needs Planning and Special Education Advocacy Attorneys work for the empowerment of individuals with special needs. Planning for your child’s future can seem overwhelming but you do not need to face these tasks alone. Seeking the assistance of an attorney can be the best approach. receptive language disorders.
Main Street Pediatric Dentistry
115 Main St., Suite 302
Tuckahoe, NY 10707
914-633-4440
mainstreetpediatricdentistry.com
Main Street Pediatric Dentistry’s experienced staff has specialized training to work with special needs patients and those with disabilities. They focus on behavior management, working closely with the patient and their families to make the experience as comfortable as possible. Patients of all ages are welcome.
1154 Saw Mill River Rd., Yonkers
914-968-4854
The School for Adaptive and Integrative Learning (SAIL) at Ferncliff Manor is a NYS Education Dept. approved private, nonpublic school program serving residential and day students with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities. SAIL provides specialized instruction, intensive staff to student ratios, positive behavior interventions and supports, social services, rehabilitative therapies, dietary programming, and living accommodations for children who require the specialized care.
45 Park Avenue, Yonkers
520 Route 22, North Salem
33 Seymour St., Yonkers
914-376-4300
The Westchester School’s main campus is a year round, NY state approved special education day facility located in Yonkers NY. The school’s three locations serve individuals with autism and multiple handicaps as well as children who are medically fragile. In addition to serving Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess and Orange counties, they also support the Mid-Hudson area, New York City and Fairfield County, CT.
Extra:
Yonkers Ridge Hill Mall
221 Market St., Unit 2950, 2nd Floor, Yonkers
914-346-5072
Monster Mini Golf is an indoor, fun, affordable, upbeat experience for special needs humans of all ages. Their 18 holes of monster-themed mini golf, glow-in-the-dark experience is wheelchair accessible, climate controlled, with interactive team members. For more excitement they have an on-course DJ, arcade games, bowling, and private party rooms!
