Aboriginal Occupational Therapy (AOT)

Occupational therapists work with children to target problem areas through playful interactions, grading the activities so that the child can succeed. Treatment is geared toward increase in social participation, self-regulation and motor skilled acquisition.

Early assessment and treatemtnt leads to greater possibility of overcoming or reducing the severity of the problem.

Occupational therapy services are provided to aboriginal preschool-aged children (birth to school entrance) with the following concerns:

• gross and fine motor difficulties
• difficulty with printing or drawing
• poor attention and organization skills
• body awareness, body scheme (struggles with personal space)
• low muscle tone, muscle strength
• motor planning and coordination (clumsy)
• self-care skills (dressing, feeding, grooming, toileting)
• visual perceptual skills and spatial awareness skills
• developmental delays
• self-regulation difficulties (tantrum with transitions, problem sitting still/fidget often
• sensory processing problems (becomes bothered by loud noises, crowds, under/over reacts to pain)