Occupational Therapy

While our ABA team currently uses OT methods in our daily strategies with every child, Occupational Therapists focus on services like:

Sensory Processing Support
Fine Motor Skills
Gross Motor Skills
Self-Care Skills
Emotional Regulation
Social Participation

Our OT services focus on the real-life skills that help children feel grounded, independent, and successful, including:

Sensory regulation — Helping children understand and respond to sensory input in ways that feel safe and comfortable, using individualized sensory diets, movement breaks, and calming strategies.
Fine motor and handwriting skills — Strengthening hand muscles, improving coordination, and building confidence with writing, drawing, cutting, and everyday tasks.
Self-care and independence — Practicing routines like dressing, brushing teeth, feeding, toileting, and organizing personal belongings in supportive, step-by-step ways.
Emotional regulation and coping tools — Teaching children how to recognize feelings, use calming strategies, and navigate transitions with more ease.
Play and social participation — Supporting turn-taking, flexible thinking, imaginative play, and shared joy with peers and siblings.
Executive functioning — Building skills for planning, sequencing, problem-solving, and staying organized in school and daily routines.

Every OT session is designed to feel safe and fun. Our OTs use a blend of evidence-based practices and child-led exploration, always through a neurodiversity-affirming lens.

Strength-based — We start with what your child loves and build from there.
Sensory-informed — We create environments that help children feel regulated and ready to learn.
Play-driven — Play is a child’s most natural way to grow, connect, and practice new skills.
Collaborative — Families are partners in the process, and we work closely with ABA, Speech, teachers, and caregivers to ensure consistency and support across settings.
Individualized — No two children are alike. Every plan is tailored to your child’s needs, interests, and goals.

Occupational Therapy helps autistic children build the foundation for confidence, independence, and joyful participation in their world. Whether your child needs support with sensory processing, emotional regulation, motor skills, or daily routines, our team is here to walk alongside your family with compassion and expertise.

Jennifer Crisp, Director of Occupational Therapy

Jenn leads our OT program across teams. As a Licensed Occupational Therapist for more than 20 years, Jenn has extensive experience assessing and developing OT programming across age groups. Jenn has provided OT services for Hall, Union, and Towns County School Systems, in both in-patient and out-patient clinical settings, home health for pediatrics and adults, and for long-term care and rehabilitation programs. Jenn works directly with your child and collaborates with your child’s other therapists to incorporate OT strategies into your child’s daily routine. This approach maximizes outcomes and helps accelerate progress for your child’s OT related needs.

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Therapy

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