Occupational Therapy for Developmental Disabilities
Gain independence by building skills for everyday life
How to register:
Find practical strategies that open doors to meaningful participation
Some people with developmental disabilities require additional support to help them participate in their communities and achieve independence. Occupational therapy uses a caregiver-coaching model to help people participate in everyday life by enhancing their ability to confidently complete everyday activities.
By working with caregivers, we help people across the lifespan in several areas, including:
- Self-care (e.g., toileting, eating, dressing, hygiene)
- Productivity (e.g., school, work, play)
- Leisure (e.g., community, social activities)
Who we support
Children, youth, and adults of all ages with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their caregivers.
What to expect
Inquire
Once you inquire, we’ll confirm your eligibility. We’ll then be in touch to start the registration process and connect you to an occupational therapist.
Assessment
During assessment sessions, we will gather information from you, review medical and other assessment history, observe a series of assigned tasks, and compare the child or adult’s performance to the performance of others in their age category. Once the assessment is completed, the occupational therapist will make recommendations.
Scheduled Appointments
During appointments, your occupational therapist teaches the family or caregivers strategies to help the person they support perform daily activities. Strategies may address various topics, including skill development, environment modifications, and care coordination. Functional problems that occupational therapy may address include challenges with daily-living activities, school readiness, work readiness, and leisure activities.
There are slightly different eligibility criteria depending on age.
Infants and children aged 0–6 years must:
- Have a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of an intellectual or developmental disability
- Live in Toronto
Children and youth aged 6–18 years must:
- Have a confirmed diagnosis of an intellectual disability or developmental disability
- Live in Toronto
Adults aged 18 years or over must:
- Have a confirmed diagnosis of an intellectual or developmental disability
- Live in Toronto
- Be eligible for Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) Toronto Region
Before any intervention strategies can begin, an occupational therapy assessment is needed to determine the level of intervention required.
Children with both autism and an intellectual/developmental disability may be eligible for both this service (Occupational Therapy for Developmental Disabilities) and Occupational Therapy for Autism.
Occupational Therapy for Developmental Disabilities reflects the public model, while Occupational Therapy for Autism is typically used when families are planning to use OAP funding, insurance, or pay out-of-pocket. You can choose the pathway that is best for you and your family.
Each service plan is customized to the needs of the child or adult. Intervention sessions may be scheduled as frequently as once per week. They can range from 1 to 24 weeks in length, depending on the concerns being addressed.
These intervention sessions are offered 1-to-1 with some group options through our Wellness Events.
In occupational therapy, occupations refer to the everyday activities that people do as individuals, in families, and with communities to occupy time and bring meaning and purpose to life. Occupations include things people need to (e.g., eating, dressing), want to (e.g., community, social activities) and are expected to do (e.g., work, social).
Occupational therapists (OT) help promote confidence and build skill sets to allow a person to participate in activities that they need, want, or are expected to perform. Our occupational therapists use their clinical expertise to help children and adults gain the functional skills that are needed for independence or to achieve their goals. We offer a wide variety of services that include but are not limited to the following areas:
- Fine motor skills (pencil grasp, dexterity, scissor skills, printing skills, hand-eye coordination, visual perception skills, bilateral coordination)
- Gross motor skills (ball skills, coordination and motor planning, riding a bike, balance, core strength, mobility, equipment recommendations)
- Sensory processing (sensitivities to textures, sounds, tastes, and/or light, body awareness, difficulty remaining seated, transitions, new environments)
- Self-care (dressing, feeding, bathing, toileting, home modification)
- Self regulation (attention and focus, emotional regulation, social skills)
- Executive function (organization, planning, task initiation, time management, impulse-control)
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