Strides Occupational Therapy Services

Strides OT works to determine and meet the needs of individuals who are experiencing challenges with development and functional performance. Through professional, evidence-based interventions in a fun, family-centered community environment, clients will have opportunities to improve and expand upon their own skills and development through specifically designed therapeutic treatments.

Following an evaluation, a treatment program will be designed to address various needs, which may include: gross and fine motor skills, sensory processing, mobility, visual motor and visual perceptual skills, self-regulatory skills, handwriting skills, self-care skills, social and play skill development, motor planning, organization, and coordination

Is Occupational Therapy Necessary?

Common issues OT can assist with:
Signs of Struggle with Fine Motor Skills:

• Avoidance of activities that require fine motor skills due to difficulty with manipulation of objects

• Has difficulty with school related tasks such as grasping a pencil or using scissors, and/or shows poor handwriting and letter/number formation

• Has trouble with pre-writing, tracing, coloring, or drawing

• May struggle at the dinner table with forks, spoons, and/or knives

• Difficulty with buttons, zippers, or shoelaces


Signs of Struggle with Gross Motor Skills:

• Avoidance of activities that require gross motor skills

• Displays poor balance, is clumsy, and/or has difficulty coordinating both sides of the body

• Has low or high muscle tone

• Struggles with ascending or descending the stairs

• Is resistant to cross midline

• Shows fear/anxiety when off the ground


Signs of Struggle with Oral Motor Skills

• Displays excessive drool

• May resist chewing in the back of the mouth

• Has difficulty using a cup or straw at an age-appropriate time

• Shows signs of fatigue after eating

• Loses liquid or food from mouth when drinking or chewing

• Is a picky eater

• May mouth toys or objects beyond an age-appropriate time
Signs of Struggle with Play

• Requires guidance with initiating play and/or does not explore toys

• Has difficulty with regulation, or moves quickly from one activity to the next

• May not join in with others when playing

• Perseverance on one toy/game/activity for hours

• May struggle with sharing and turn taking


Signs of Struggle with Social Interaction Skills:

• Has difficulty coping in school or adapting to new environments

• May have difficulty interacting socially and engaging with family and peers

• May be overly focused on one subject

• Displays poor eye contact

• Has difficulty with tracking objects

• Struggles to maintain focus on something or someone for more than a few seconds

• Looks away when catching a ball or when completing writing tasks

• Rubs eyes while completing tasks that require visual attention/focus

• Has trouble with spacing and sizing letters when writing, or has difficulty recognizing letters

• Has difficulty copying shapes or letters

• Has difficulty locating objects in a busy background

• Struggles with maintaining his or her place on the paper when copying from the board or another paper

• Has difficulty with right and left

• Fidgets in chair/falls out of chair

• Takes a long time to learn new skills or relies heavily on adult support to complete tasks

• Shows poor impulse control or poor personal space with peers

• Is easily distracted or has difficulty focusing at school, may show difficulty with following directions

• May fatigue easily when completing school work

• Has difficulty with regulation of energy/arousal level

• Reverses letters or numbers when writing

• Melts down after school or being in a busy environment

• May be overly responsive to sensations or under responsive to sensations (visual, auditory, movement, etc.)

• Is easily distracted by things they see or hear

• Is constantly moving, jumping, crashing, or bumping into objects and others

• Is unsafe during play

• Is unable to or has difficulty with emotional regulation

• Struggles with coping with change or handling transitions; easily overwhelmed in busy environments

• Clumsy or lacks safety awareness

• Is not reaching developmental milestones such as sitting, crawling, and walking

• May struggle to learn at an age appropriate level

• Has difficulty developing play and social skills