What is Occupational Therapy (OT)?

Occupational Therapy (OT) helps children build the everyday skills they need to participate in life—at home, at school, and in the community. OT focuses on things like sensory regulation, fine and gross motor skills, self-care routines (dressing, feeding, toileting), play, feeding skills, and school-related tasks. The goal is simple: to help your child feel more comfortable in their body, more capable in their routines, and more confident in their world.  

Our OT Approach at Hope Autism Services

At Hope Autism Services, OT is tailored to each child’s unique sensory, motor, feeding, and emotional profile.

• We begin by learning about your child’s strengths, challenges, and daily routines, as well as your priorities as a family.
• Our Occupational Therapists complete a thorough assessment and create an individualized, goal-focused plan that fits your child—not the other way around.
• We use play-based, sensory-informed, and trauma-informed approaches, always respecting your child’s pace, preferences, and comfort level.
• OT sessions may take place in our sensory-friendly spaces, using movement, play, and meaningful activities (including feeding when appropriate) to build skills in a fun, engaging way.
• We work closely with parents, caregivers, and our multidisciplinary team (ABA, SLP, and more) to support consistent strategies across home, school, and therapy.

Our focus is on real-life participation—helping your child do more of the things that matter to them and to your family.  

How OT at Hope Can Help Your Child

OT services at Hope Autism Services can help your child:

• Regulate their senses and emotions Learn strategies to manage sensitivities to noise, textures, movement, or touch—reducing overwhelm and helping your child feel calmer and more in control.
• Build fine and gross motor skills Improve hand strength, coordination, balance, posture, and motor planning for activities like writing, cutting, climbing, or playing on the playground.
• Develop self-care and independence Practice dressing, toileting, brushing teeth, washing hands, using utensils, and other daily living skills step-by-step, at a pace that feels manageable.
• Support feeding and mealtime participation Address challenges such as picky eating, limited food variety, difficulty chewing or managing textures, and mealtime anxiety—using gradual, child-centred strategies to make eating safer, more comfortable, and less stressful for your child and family.
• Improve school-related skills Work on printing, cutting, organizing materials, staying seated, and following routines so your child can participate more comfortably in the classroom.
• Increase attention and engagement Support your child in staying focused, transitioning between activities, and participating more fully in play, learning, and family routines.
• Support positive behaviour through regulation When a child’s sensory, motor, and feeding needs are better supported, challenging behaviours often decrease, and participation in meaningful activities increases.
• Empower parents and caregivers Learn practical, easy-to-use strategies and environmental modifications you can use in everyday routines and mealtimes—so therapy continues between sessions and your whole family feels more supported.

At Hope Autism Services, our OT team walks alongside you, helping your child build the skills they need to feel safe, capable, and confident in their daily life.