The role of an occupational therapist is tohelp DYS children (dyspraxia, dyslexia…) to develop and regain a degree of autonomy in their daily lives and at school. If the quality of the relationship between the two is a sine qua non for the success of this collaboration, the quality of the relationship between the occupational therapist and the parents is too often underestimated. These play a major role in therapy… Explanations.
Occupational therapy and learning disabilities
Occupational therapists are frequently called in to help with learning disabilities, and study the assessment(s) carried out toanalyze the DYS child’s main difficulties and understand their sources. Based on this valuable information, they focus their support on 4 points:
- Daily life – by enabling the DYS child to gain autonomy and independence;
- His schooling – by arranging his working time with suitable tools ;
- His hobbies – making the necessary adaptations to support his choice ;
- His well-being and self-fulfilment – by working on his self-confidence and self-esteem.
The relationship between the professional and the DYS child
Depending on the nature of the disorder(dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, dyscalculia…), the occupational therapist can offer the DYS child appropriate follow-up.
To do this, he carries out an
occupational therapy assessment
which must be carried out on the basis of a medical prescription. This consists of a physical or telephone appointment to understand the child’s environment and daily routine, as well as to identify his or her behavior, abilities and history. After carrying out a number of tests to assess cerebral and motor skills, the professional will draw up a list of possible solutions, and then draw up a precise therapy plan.
Set out in a calendar, the activities take the form of fun games and exercises designed to motivate children and inspire them to excel.
The relationship between occupational therapists and parents
The success of the occupational therapist’s therapy obviously depends on the DYS child’s involvement, but also on that of his or her parents: throughout the rehabilitation process, the professional will work closely with them to find out their wishes and needs.
As figures of support and encouragement for the DYS child, parents play a major role that no good practitioner can ignore. In fact, the activities proposed by the professional are inevitably subject to the child’s desires, which do not always fit in with the session times.
That’s why occupational therapists will guide parents and give them the keys to stimulating their DYS child at home when he or she is receptive: gross motor, fine motor and upper limb activities, as well as age-appropriate sensory stimulation.
Don’t hesitate to consult one of the professionals on the Ora-Visio platform, an occupational therapist specialized in helping DYS children : available online, they can answer your questions and explain clearly how they can concretely help your child.
