If you’d asked me 10 years ago what Occupational Therapy (OT) is, I wouldn’t have been able to say much. Having a child diagnosed with autism 7 years ago changed that. Autism is a frightening diagnosis for most parents to receive- it certainly was for us. It is one of the few diagnoses that doesn’t have a firm, doctor-prescribed treatment plan. It is ultimately up to the parents to decide among the plethora of autism treatments available.
We were initially unsure how helpful OT would be for our child, but we were offered in-home sessions at a discounted rate through our county’s early intervention program (the CDSA). After an evaluation, our relationship with an Occupational Therapist began. Our therapist visited us twice a week to begin to help our child with sensory issues. Not being a medical professional myself, I hadn’t fully realized how severely sensory defensive my child was. As our therapist worked with her, I began to understand that 1) there were real reasons behind some of my child’s behaviors (such as an aversion to hair washing and brushing) and 2) my child was missing out on key developmental learning opportunities because her sensitivities caused her to withdraw from her surroundings.
Getting started with any new therapy program can be tough for both parent and child, but when the results started coming in, we were thrilled! Our child learned to be less focused on toys with flashing lights and more interested in real play. Through some desensitization therapy, she became able to touch things with wet, slimy, or gritty textures and not become upset. Learning to take turns in game play was a huge step for her. Just mastering turn-taking enabled us to do things we hadn’t been able to do before, like attend other children’s birthday parties. So many of her fears melted away, which helped us know that doors to experiencing the world were opening up for her. Without a professional Occupational Therapist to help her consistently, I don’t know if she would have experienced such success.
Now our child is 9 and a half years old. She has received many types of therapy in addition to OT, but we know that it all worked together to heal her. Our girl attends elementary school and functions well in a typical classroom, is able to participate in PE, Art, and Music, and plays with friends on the playground. She is able to write legibly thanks to the “Handwriting Without Tears” program our therapist used with her. Our girl still has shades of autism, but she has overcome so many challenges thanks to consistent Occupational Therapy. We are now happy, grateful parents who know their child will continue to have success in life.