Occupational Therapy: Who is it for and how can it help?

Sep 11, 2026

Occupational Therapy: Who is it for and how can it help?

Occupational therapy helps people of all ages learn or improve the skills they need for everyday life. It focuses on helping people take part in activities that are important and meaningful to them. These activities can include:

Activities of daily living (eating, dressing, etc.)
Caregiver and family support / training
Fall prevention, home safety, and accessibility
Memory, concentration, and executive function techniques
Routine establishment
Use of adaptive equipment

The Process

Typically, people receive a referral for occupational therapy from their primary care provider or other physician. Some practices may not require a referral to initiate treatment, but it is recommended to first discuss with your physician. With a physician referral, your occupational therapist (OT) can have a better understanding of your goals. It is important to note that receiving occupational therapy does not require an autism diagnosis. Therefore, it can be a way for children to learn new skills while they wait for a diagnostic evaluation appointment or applied behavioral therapy (ABA) availability.

The first step in occupational therapy getting an evaluation with the OT. The OT will observe the person’s current ability level and how they learn, play, practice self-care, interact with others and their environment. They will also see what challenges the person faces when trying to complete daily tasks. Following the evaluation, the OT will create goals to address these challenges and improve the individual’s daily life.

Common Goals

Occupational therapy can help with a wide variety of goals that are specific to each person. Examples include eating, grooming, toileting, and learning to independently dress. Occupational therapy can also assist with fine motor skills like cutting with scissors and writing.

Occupational therapy can also help individuals with sensory needs. Autistic people with sensory related goals often undergo sensory integration therapy. This type of therapy is used for people whose senses react too strongly or don’t react strongly enough. The OT will work with their patient to make them more comfortable, which will look different for each individual.

Occupational Therapy in the Home and the Role of the Caregiver

For occupational therapy to be beneficial for the person, they will need to work on their goals outside of therapy sessions. This can look different for each person but will require involvement from caregivers. Occupational therapy in the home may look like the OT creating a daily schedule for the individual, which the caregiver would need to help enforce. It could also look like the OT educating the caregiver on sensory regulation strategies so the caregiver can implement them in the home.

The OT and caregiver will need to work together to ensure there is clear communication of the child’s goals. This allows the caregiver to be aware of what the child is working towards in therapy sessions and thus can better help them meet these goals in the home. For example, a person may be working towards dressing themselves. Caregiver support of this goal would be encouraging the child to attempt to dress themselves first and provide support when needed. If the child is working on dressing themselves in therapy sessions, but the caregiver is not allowing them to practice at home, it will take significantly longer for this goal to be met.

Time Commitment

The amount of time a person spends in occupational therapy will vary based on their needs, diagnosis, therapy goals, and family involvement. Each session usually lasts 30 minutes to one hour, and the number of sessions each week will depend on the person’s needs. Outside of therapy sessions, people may have goals to work on at home or at school. The occupational therapist (OT) can work with caregivers to explain how they can best support the individual in reaching their goals.

Occupational Therapy and Insurance

Occupational therapy is typically covered by health insurance. Some insurance companies may require a physician stating the therapy is medically needed.

Children may also receive occupational therapy through their school. Occupational therapy can be included in the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). Occupational therapy within an IEP is likely related to their learning in school. Thus, additional occupational therapy outside of what is provided at school may be necessary for some kids. However, occupational therapy written in an IEP is not billed to you or your insurance.

Occupational Therapy in Georgia

There are many practices offering occupational therapy in Georgia. On our website, click directory à filter à occupational therapy to find an occupational therapy practice near you. You can find this information here:

https://www.autismtoolkit.org/directory/

Another resource guide can be found below. Scroll to therapies and interventions à occupational therapy à enter your state and zip code.

https://www.autismspeaks.org/resource-guide.

Occupational therapy is valuable to people of all abilities who wish better perform activities of daily living. Occupational therapy can help individuals achieve their goals, which can vary from independent dressing to addressing their sensory needs. In order for occupational therapy goals to be met, working towards these goals both in therapy sessions and in the home is very important for success. This therapy may require a longer time commitment, but it can drastically improve the individual’s quality of life.

Article By: Grace Mccorkle and The Autism ToolKit