Occupational Therapy

Build Life Skills Through Pediatric Occupational Therapy

What Does Occupational Therapy Help With?

Pediatric occupational therapy helps children build the skills they need for daily life. While OT is one of the recommended therapies and treatments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it’s also effective for a wide range of developmental delays, sensory-processing challenges and motor skills difficulties.

At Hopebridge, our pediatric occupational therapists support children with:

Sensory processing and sensory integration challenges
Decreased fine motor coordination
Muscle weakness or low muscle tone
Visual motor and visual perceptual difficulties
Attention, focus and self-regulation obstacles
Developmental delays in gross or fine motor milestones
Feeding difficulties
Sleep disturbances
Self-care tasks like dressing, brushing teeth or toileting
Play skill development
School readiness, including handwriting and sitting for instruction

What Does an Occupational Therapist Do?

In defining occupational therapy, it helps to start with the word, “occupation,” which refers to the activities a person engages in each day. For children, their primary occupations are playing and learning—both of which are essential for development and independence.

Unlike adult OT, which often focuses on regaining lost skills, pediatric OT supports children who are still learning them for the first time. That might include strengthening fine motor skills, improving emotional regulation or building sensory tolerance so they can success at home, in school and beyond.

Our licensed therapists create personalized plans using evidence-based techniques to support the foundational skills needed to participate in daily activities with confidence.

Want to know if OT at Hopebridge is right for your child? Learn more about our occupational therapy evaluations at Hopebridge:

OT EVALUATIONS

When Does My Child Need Occupational Therapy?

Pediatric occupational therapy is recommended when a child has developmental delays or difficulties that affect everyday activities. For example, if your child has trouble self-regulating, trying new foods, picking up utensils, bathing, or traveling outside the house because of too much stimuli, you may want to consider occupational therapy.

As a caregiver, it’s not always easy to tell when a behavior or challenge is typical for the child’s age, or if extra support is needed.

That’s why we offer free developmental milestone checklists. These simple tools help you track your child’s progress and identify skills that occupational therapy can support—so you can have more informed conversations with your pediatrician about possible next steps.

GET THE MILESTONE CHECKLIST

Supporting Sensory Issues Through OT

Does your child feel overstimulated by bright lights, loud noises or certain textures? Many children experience sensory processing difficulties that make everyday experiences feel overwhelming.

Pediatric occupational therapy can help children better understand and respond to sensory input in a way that feels safer and more manageable.

Hopebridge therapists use individualized strategies to improve sensory regulation, helping kids feel more comfortable at home and in the community.

LEARN ABOUT SENSORY SENSITIVITIES

Why Choose Hopebridge for Occupational Therapy?

Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers are designed specifically to support your child’s therapeutic needs in a structured, engaging environment. Our centers are equipped with the tools and spaces that allow children to practice real-life skills. They can learn to get dressed, participate in circle time, play with peers in the gross motor gym, or use the bathroom—all in settings that mirror home and school environments.

What truly sets Hopebridge apart is our interdisciplinary Hopebridge 360 Care model. If your child receives multiple services – such as applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy), speech therapy and/or occupational therapy – our clinicians collaborate closely to align goals and deliver more meaningful outcomes. This child-centered, team-based approach focuses on compassionate care to ensure that your child’s progress – and your entire family – is supported from every angle.