The Occupational Therapy department at Gillen Brewer is committed to helping improve each student’s ability to participate in daily life activities or “occupations.” Specifically, we facilitate the development of visual-perceptual, gross motor, fine motor, self-care and sensory processing skills in order to enhance each child’s participation and performance of school-related activities.
Occupational Therapy sessions may be conducted in a variety of settings, including our two sensory gyms, fine motor room, the child’s classroom, or during a group sports/arts activity in order to support each child according to his or her individual needs. The two sensory gyms are equipped with suspended swings, therapy balls, climbing mats, and a rock wall. The fine motor room has a variety of materials which include games, manipulatives, handwriting tools, and other fine motor activities.
In addition to direct treatment, the Occupational Therapy Department highly values its collaboration with all members of the team, including teaching staff, speech and language pathology, psychology, arts department, and family members. We routinely consult with the team to provide sensory diets, adaptive equipment (i.e. slant board, seat cushion, assistive technology devices), and other strategies to improve classroom performance. As a team, we work to maximize each child’s learning potential and independence in the school environment.