At BRAINS, our occupational therapists believe that a child’s job is to PLAY! Each OT at BRAINS brings a unique skill set to the team including feeding therapy, reflex integration, rehabilitation, and specialty in developmental delays and autism spectrum disorders. Occupational therapists facilitate a child’s participation in play to promote overall well-being. Playtime builds physical skills, cognition, and opportunities for learning. Incorporating meaningful play into a child’s daily routine is essential for physical and mental well-being.
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc., occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.
Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Occupational therapy services typically include:
- an individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals
- customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals, and
- an outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan.
Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners have a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment and/or task to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team. It is an evidence-based practice deeply rooted in science.
Typical clientele at BRAINS ranges from infants to early adulthood, and beyond! The skills improved at BRAINS in OT are vast, ranging from sensory integration to fine motor coordination to self-care skills. Moreover, OTs work to improve emotional regulation, self-control, and attention to task to further enhance life skills. The on-site gym provides opportunities for children to have fun while furthering developmental skills. The multi-disciplinary team at BRAINS work together to help clients understand how their brain and body effect participation in everyday life.
BRAINS is located in a wooded office park in northeast Grand Rapids and provides a range of services to individuals across the lifespan. Knowing where to get started can be complicated so we have a team of clinical support staff available Monday-Saturday to assist you. Please call the office at 616-365-8920 to speak with a staff member. Complimentary consultations are available to determine if occupational therapy is right for you and your family. For more information about occupational therapy at BRAINS, visit brainspotential.com/services/occupational-therapy.