Occupational therapists in Northern Ireland help children with developmental delays, physical disabilities, or learning disabilities perform daily living activities. They focus on optimizing children's ability to function independently through assessing areas like motor skills, perception, sensory processing, posture, and the home/school environment. The therapists provide support and training to children, parents, teachers, and schools to enhance functional skills.

1. Occupational Therapy
Helping Children Develop and Thrive
www.COT.org.uk

2. Our focus
Our aim for children and young people is to
optimise their occupational performance and
enhance their ability to function to their
potential in their daily lives
Self Care School activities Play & Leisure
www.COT.org.uk

3. In NI Paediatric Occupational Therapists
provide an integrated service to meet
the functional needs of the child in a
holistic manner
www.COT.org.uk

4. Who Do We See?
Children or young people:
from birth to 18 or 19 years old
with Developmental Delay
with Physical or learning disabilities
whose functional difficulties
significantly interfere with performing
Activities of Daily Living (ADL), to
include academic tasks.
www.COT.org.uk 4

5. What Areas Do We Assess?
• Motor and Sensori-motor skills
• Visual Perceptual Skills
• Sensory Regulation
• Postural Management
• Environmental Issues
www.COT.org.uk

6. Sensori-
Motor Skills
www.COT.org.uk 6

7. Visual
Perceptual
Skills
www.COT.org.uk 7

8. Sensory
Regulation
Skills
www.COT.org.uk 8

9. Postural
Management
www.COT.org.uk 9

10. Environmental Issues
www.COT.org.uk 10

11. Collaborative Working with
Education by...
• Providing specific advice and support
• Delivering training pre and post qualification
• Involvement in IEP’s
• Making recommendations for school
environments
• Providing direct treatment within some
school settings
• Multi-agency approach
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12. Children’s Comments
“I cannot write “I just can’t sit still,
neatly or fast the classroom is
always so noisy.”
enough.”
“I would like to be
able to bathe on
“I find it hard my own.”
move my
wheelchair around
my home.”
www.COT.org.uk

13. Teacher’s Comments
“His mobility is “His wheelchair is
deteriorating and to low for the
he is falling a lot tables in the
outside now” classroom.”
“When he works
on the computer “He finds P.E. so
I begin to see difficult”
his true ability.”
www.COT.org.uk

14. Parent/Carer
Comments
“I am finding it hard to “I still have to
lift my child in and out of dress him.”
the wheelchair.”
“He hates
getting bathed “I is difficult to
and getting his feed my child in
hair washed and his chair”
cut.” www.COT.org.uk

15. Thank You For Your Attention
Any Questions?
www.COT.org.uk