WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (OT)?

Occupational Therapy (OT) helps people participate in the activities and enjoyment of everyday life. 

Some autistic people have behaviours that can affect their ability to participate in daily activities such as rigid patterns of play, obsessions with particular interests, motor and sensory difficulties. This can lead to resistance to changes in routines or environments. 

For autistic people, finding an OT who ‘gets’ autism can make a big difference. At Autism Abilities, we understand that the needs and wants of each autistic person are as individual as they are. We adopt an individualised approach to therapy focussing on each person’s unique needs, goals, values and priorities. 

Your OT will observe your interactions across your whole environment, including family, school or work, leisure,  play etc. A thorough evaluation is performed to assess fine and gross motor skills, perceptual, communication and interaction skills, routines and habits. Parents/carers are involved in the assessment process through interviews and standardised questionnaires. And from here a therapy plan can be formulated.

OT's can do a whole range of things using a whole range of approaches, for example: 

- develop strategies to modify tasks and/or environments to make them more accessible 

- help to establish & maintain daily routines 

- minimise stress relating to individual sensory experience

- focus on self-care, feeding or sleep problems 

- work with school or work on adaptations to facilitate participation in these settings

- support your teacher/school to understand impact sensory processing difficulties can have on daily functioning

- general skill building to help with starting and completing tasks

- conduct risk assessments of environments providing recommendations for modifications

In short, OTs provide a key role within a multidisciplinary team. They can provide strategies and adaptations to assist you to participate in daily activities.

Autism Abilities has a strengths based, neurodivergent affirming approach with individualised therapy plans that are constantly evaluated to ensure their efficiency and relevance.

Funding for Occupational Therapy is listed as 'Improved Daily Living' (CB Daily) in your NDIS plan.  

Autism Abilities is an NDIS registered service therefore we can provide support to agency, plan and/or self managed NDIS participants.

The current hourly rate for OT is $193.99 per hour. 

This is an accordance with current NDIS pricing arrangements (as of 1 July 2024). Travel costs will be applied for home or community based appointments.