OT @ P4K

At P4K, occupational therapists (OTs) look at how development across various areas affects school performance. Self-care skills such as washing hands, dressing, and managing fasteners might be addressed during daily arrival and dismissal routines. OTs support students during mealtime to self-feed and open packages or containers independently. In the classroom, OTs collaborate with teachers to incorporate movement activities, consider alternative seating options, and utilize Sensory Areas in a manner that best meets individual student needs and preferences to promote self-regulation essential for learning. As students handle classroom tools and manipulatives, OTs collaborate to support fine motor skill development. Strategies such as using adapted paper or a pencil grip may be suggested to support writing/pre-writing skills. The OT experience for students may include working 1:1 with the therapist or in a group with peers, either in the therapy room or in other areas of the school (classroom, hallway, cafeteria, gymnasium, playground) to ensure the transfer of skills across environments. OTs work collaboratively with the educational team and parents to support students to be as independent as possible as they engage in school-based activities.