MY APPROACH

I choose to take a more neurodivergent affirming approach that I call ‘Barriers to Participation’. My approach considers issues with the environment and support for the child, rather than viewing the child as being less than. I also consider how strengths can be used to mitigate challenges. My approach is aligned with the core values of occupational therapy as a profession. Children's occupational therapists (OTs) aim to help young people overcome challenges so that they can participate more fully in daily life. They look at the child's skills and environment to highlight barriers and suggest adaptations.

Daily living skills, learning, behaviour and communication, all grow and develop from a strong sensory foundation and my assessment therefore has a sensory focus. I consider a child’s ‘sensory processing and integration’, which means I look at how the child’s body and brain takes in and processes sensory input and how this impacts their ability to plan, coordinate and carry out daily activities (such as those related to learning, social engagement, self-care and play). Whilst this assessment approach can highlight areas of difficulty in the child’s sensory processing and integration, my recommendations relate to how the environment can be adapted and what adult support the child needs to thrive, rather than suggesting that the child needs to change.

I include standardised scoring in my report in the appendices. I do not in fact agree with comparing children to what society considers typical, however the realities of the current system mean that solid evidence is often required to access support. I find that the assessments I use help me understand the barriers to a child’s participation in everyday life which enables me to make child centred recommendations, however I ask that parents and young people do not pay too much attention to the scoring of these tools.

My approach feels aligned with my values and it is ever evolving over time. I am excited to work with families who also feel aligned with my approach and I welcome questions; please do contact me. 

RESOURCES.