Occupational Therapy - Act Autism Therapy

Occupational Therapy for Child Development – Building the Brain Through Play, Sensory & Function

Unlocking Speech, Learning, and Social Development Through Neuroscience-Based Therapy

Occupational Therapy (OT) is not just about improving motor skills — it’s about helping your child become independent, communicative, socially connected, and school-ready.

At our center, we offer neurodevelopmentally informed occupational therapy that supports speech and language development, cognitive growth, academic learning, and overall brain function in children.

Our Evidence-Based OT Approach Integrates:

The Neuroscience Behind Occupational Therapy

During early development, a child’s brain forms millions of neural connections every second. These connections are shaped by movement, sensory input, emotional experiences, and interaction with the environment — the very foundations of occupational therapy.

Occupational Therapy uses play, sensory exploration, and purposeful activities to stimulate the brain’s plasticity — helping children form and strengthen the neural pathways required for:

Reflex Integration and Brain Maturation

Primitive reflexes (like the Moro, ATNR, STNR) should disappear as the child matures. If they remain unintegrated, they can interfere with development. OT helps:

When combined with speech therapy, sensory integration, oral placement therapy, and NDBI, our occupational therapy has helped hundreds of children develop speech and communication skills more effectively and naturally.

How Occupational Therapy Supports Speech and Language Development

OT helps speech by:

Improving oral motor strength and coordination

For better articulation and sound clarity

Reducing oral defensiveness and sensory aversions

Making children more willing to explore speech sounds and foods

Enhancing auditory processing and attention

To better follow instructions and engage in conversation

Facilitating joint attention and turn-taking through play

Crucial for back-and-forth communication

Supporting emotional regulation

So children can communicate instead of melting down

Speech and language do not develop in isolation — they depend on the child’s ability to move, feel, attend, and engage with the world. OT creates that foundation.

Occupational Therapy for Academic Skills & School Readiness

Occupational Therapy also plays a critical role in preparing children for school success. Our therapists support children in developing:

How Occupational Therapy Works – Step by Step

Parent Support & Training

We believe therapy doesn’t stop at the center — it continues at home. That’s why Act for Autism offers:

Fine motor skills

For writing, drawing, cutting, and pencil grasp

Cognitive flexibility and problem-solving

To approach learning with confidence

Visual perceptual and visual-motor skills

For reading, copying, and board work

Attention span and task persistence

To focus during classroom tasks

Postural control and endurance

To sit and participate in group activities

Executive functions

Planning, sequencing, memory, and time management

Our School Readiness Program helps children transition from therapy to classroom environments with confidence and independence.

Sensory Integration Therapy – The Core of Occupational Therapy

Many children with autism, ADHD, or developmental delays have sensory processing disorders. They may:

Sensory Integration Therapy (based on Ayres SI) helps regulate these systems, creating a calm, alert, and organized brain — the foundation for learning, socializing, and communicating.

Domains of Development OT Supports

Occupational Therapy promotes growth in every area of child development: