SEND: Occupational Therapist and Autism
- Mable Green
- 13 hours ago
- 2 min read
An Occupational Therapy Assessment is essential to support Autism. Along with the diagnosis pathway, an Occupational Therapist (OT) can empower an autistic child, person or their parents to decode what the autistic person needs to cope with. There are environments that don't suit them and create strategies to manage themselves.
An Occupational Therapist (OT) is a health professional who helps people build, regain, or adapt the skills they need for everyday life — things like getting dressed, focusing in class, managing emotions, cooking a meal, or holding down a job.
“Occupation” doesn’t just mean employment. It means anything that occupies your time and gives your life meaning — school, play, friendships, routines, self-care, work.
So basically? An OT helps people do life.
Based on our study findings, we conclude that occupational therapy significantly improves sensory skills, relationship-building abilities, body and object use, language skills, and social and self-care skills in children with ASD.
What Does an Occupational Therapist Actually Do?
They look at three things:
🧠 The person (strengths, challenges, sensory profile, motor skills, regulation)
🏠 The environment (home, school, workplace)
🎯 The activity (what the person needs or wants to do)
Then they figure out how to make those pieces work better together.
How Occupational Therapy Supports Neurodiversity
When we talk about neurodiversity, we’re recognising that brains work differently — and that differences like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and others are natural variations of human wiring.
Occupational therapists don’t try to “fix” someone’s brain. Instead, they support regulation, participation, independence, and well-being.
🧩 1. Sensory Processing Support
Many neurodivergent people experience the world intensely — sounds may feel too loud, lights too bright, clothing too scratchy.
An OT can:
Identify sensory sensitivities or sensory-seeking patterns.
Create a “sensory diet” (planned sensory activities)
Introduce tools like weighted blankets, fidgets, and movement breaks.
Adapt environments (lighting, seating, noise)
The goal? Better regulation, not compliance.
✏️ 2. Executive Function & Daily Living Skills
This is especially helpful for people with ADHD or autistic individuals.
An OT might help with:
Time management
Task initiation
Breaking tasks into manageable steps
Creating visual schedules
Developing routines that actually stick
Instead of “try harder,” it becomes “let’s design this differently.”
🤝 3. Emotional Regulation & Co-Regulation
Occupational therapists often teach:
Body awareness (interoception)
Identifying emotions
Calming strategies
Co-regulation techniques for parents/teachers
They might use programs like:
The Zones of Regulation (a framework for emotional awareness and regulation)
The focus isn’t stopping big feelings — it’s helping someone understand and navigate them.
🏫 4. School Support & Advocacy
OTs can:
Recommend classroom accommodations
Help with handwriting or typing alternatives.
Support transitions between activities
Work on social participation (without forcing masking)
They often collaborate on IEPs or education plans.
What Ages Do Occupational Therapists Work With?
All of them.
Early intervention (babies & toddlers)
School-aged children
Teens
Adults navigating work, burnout, or independence
Neurodivergent adults often seek OT support for:
Sensory burnout
Workplace accommodations
Energy management
Daily task overwhelm.
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