By Tammy Cheng

“What is Occupational Therapy? Do you help people find jobs?” These are the questions I get asked the most when people ask me what I do, or they may just agree in silence pretending they know what Occupational Therapy is.

Occupation is not just about work or productivity. It is anything we do that occupies our time! Think about what you do in a day… you get out of bed, brush your teeth, make breakfast, drive to work, go to school, meet your friends, go to yoga classes, play sport, and the list goes on. These are some of the occupations that are meaningful to us, and the list looks different for everyone. Now think about a person who is wheelchair bound or has a mental illness. Getting out of bed may seem impossible; the sink or the counter may be too high and not accessible; how is he/she getting to work or school? How can he/she participate in sports? This is where Occupational Therapy comes into play.

Occupational Therapists (aka. OTs) help people of all ages to do things that they want or need to do regardless of their abilities. We help people function in their environment and address the physical, psychological, and cognitive aspects of their well-being. Some common Occupational Therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully at home, school and social situation, helping people recover from injuries and return to work, recommending strategies at workplace to prevent injuries, and supporting seniors with physical and cognitive limitations to ensure they live life to its fullest.

What do OTs do at Connecting Dots?

OT services at Connecting Dots focus on enabling children to participate in meaningful activities through play. We help children with:

• Cognitive skills – remembering letters, shapes and sequences
• Fine motor skills – hand writing, finger and hand strength, wrist and forearm control
• Gross motor skills – balance and body coordination
• Self-care skills – dressing, toileting, feeding, sleeping, routines
• Social skills – play, taking turns, sharing, listening, following directions
• Sensory regulation- responding appropriately to your environment and experiences

We work closely with other team members to provide you and your child with coping strategies to deal with day-to-day challenges. Every child is different and we tailor the goals around your needs. We help you problem solve and put the FUN into functions!