Guess what? Yes, these pediatric OT goals are actually for us.
Yes, I’m serious! This goes especially for autistic and neurodivergent populations, but honestly respect and advocating for autonomy applies for everyone.
It’s important to remember that achieving goals takes time, and extend grace to ourselves, just like we do for our clients and families. Doing the work is hard, but worth it.
- Therapist will learn flexibility in play, and respect when a client takes toys to the other side of the room, for 100% of opportunities.
Diving Deeper: There is power in parallel play. It honors how an autistic child may wish to play and gives opportunity to share space and foster connection in a way that is not so stressful. Same goes for children that may have difficulties with self-regulation or have needs for co-regulation with a parent. If you are still working on that shared connection, if a client moves away from you or closer to a parent, respect that they are the child’s safe space. See NeuroClastic for more on communication differences or additional perspective from Eileen Parker! - Therapist will learn to navigate child-led opportunities to lead to greater connection, even if it is not Pinterest worthy, ¾ trials.
Diving Deeper: Hey, it may not always look pretty! It’s important to remember that strength-based does not always mean that it has to include a special interest (SPIN). Sometimes while themed activities can look super fun, it can also be visually overwhelming if it has too many steps, or the instructions/end goal is not clear! - Therapist will have quiet hands and not take a client’s preferred object or toy for ‘turn-taking’.
Diving Deeper: Again, sometimes we get too excited after we recognize what activities could lead to more shared enjoyment. Sometimes a preferred toy is just for the client. Do others get to share your car, your lunch automatically? No, but if someone asks, or if you offer, that’s your choice. Choice and intrinsic motivation is key here. Have multiples of a toy if you want to engage in cooperative, pretend, or even parallel play with an object that’s similar to the activity.
For example, instead of taking turns with a car, I may have a truck I use alongside to play, or a gas station, car slide, Legos to build an overhead pass, things like that! This is with the goal to connect with your client, not to convince them to transition to your version of play. - Therapist will build upon reflective and advocacy skills to better support the client and their caregivers within the community, with min A from a mentor and/or support team.
You don’t have to do it alone. Many times therapists get initiative fatigue, where we’re told what not to do, but not what to do. Or that we must add all of these new strategies now!!! Find a group, a mentor, or peer to work through these areas with. We don’t have to figure it out on our own!
- Therapist will honor all forms of communication. 100% accuracy.
Period pooh. - Supervisors and facilities will use ⅘ accommodating strategies to make space friendlier for child-led and sensory opportunities.
This is an area I feel like we don’t talk about much, because it takes planning & money. But why are we offering services to clients with waiting rooms that are not sensory friendly in any space, limited to no accommodations for neurodivergent parents and children, and treatment spaces that are designed without clients or therapists in mind? Like one sensory room for 4-5 therapists to share? I may be dreaming, but I hope as more therapists in clinical spaces are going into business for themselves, that we keep those accommodations in mind. - Therapist will collaborate with colleagues/co-workers for carryover in creating a safe, supported therapeutic environment.
- Therapist will continue to listen, learn, and then listen again.
This one is the most important. You will never know everything. But listening to what clients communicate to us, including their parents, is something that should never be underrated.
Some of these areas take time, and others need immediate action. What’s important is that the skills of reflection and listening are never retired.
With Love,
Dr. Dime