Occupational Therapy (OT)

Occupational therapy (OT) is a powerful tool that helps students with ASD develop the skills they need to participate and navigate everyday life independently. 

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience differences in sensory processing, motor coordination, and emotional regulation. For these children, daily tasks that many take for granted, like getting dressed, holding a pencil, or brushing teeth, can present unique challenges. 

OT focuses on building these essential life skills in a way that is personalized, engaging, and developmentally appropriate. Our occupational therapists are specially trained to understand these needs and work one-on-one or in small groups to support each student’s growth. 

At Autism Journey Academy, we help students strengthen their ability to participate meaningfully in both academic and social environments. This may include managing sensory input, improving fine motor skills for handwriting, or developing confidence in self-care routines.

To make sense of the world around us, we rely on a blend of sensory input, sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, balance, and our sense of body position. This complex system helps us respond, focus, move, and interact with our surroundings.

However, children with autism spectrum disorder often process this sensory information differently. For many, sensory input can feel overwhelming, disorganized, or even painful. Their brains may struggle to filter out what is irrelevant, causing discomfort or distraction in everyday situations.

These sensory processing differences can show up in two ways:

• Sensory avoidance, where certain sounds, textures, or lights feel intolerable
• Sensory seeking, where children actively pursue movement or stimulation to feel regulated

For example, a student may become distressed by:

• A shirt tag rubbing against their neck
• A fluorescent light buzzing overhead
• A sudden noise in the hallway

Others might seek deep pressure, rocking, or repetitive sounds to soothe themselves or feel in control. When sensory input builds without being filtered, it can result in meltdowns, shutdowns, or withdrawal.

In addition to challenges with sensory processing, many children with ASD also experience difficulties with posture, coordination, and motor planning. This can affect activities like walking steadily, using scissors, or tying shoe laces.

These combined challenges can make everyday routines, such as brushing teeth, getting dressed, and engaging in classroom play, feel frustrating or even impossible. That is where occupational therapy (OT) can help.

OT is a holistic therapy form that helps those with developmental conditions, injuries, or disabilities develop, recover, or maintain essential life skills. For students with autism, this includes working on communication, self-care, emotional regulation, and sensory integration.

Occupational therapy for students with ASD involves using age-appropriate, evidence-based strategies. It teaches them practical and functional skills necessary to perform day-to-day tasks. The goal is to help each child grow more confident and independent in their everyday life.

At Autism Journey Academy, our occupational therapists conduct personalized evaluations that look at how each student engages in the following activities.

• Learn and play
• Care for themselves (e.g., dressing, grooming, eating)
• Interact with peers and adults
• Process sensory information
• Demonstrate fine and gross motor skills
• Communicate (both verbally and non-verbally)
• Regulate emotions and behaviors

Based on this comprehensive evaluation, we create individualized goals and action plans tailored to each student’s unique needs. These goals target development in key areas, such as:

• Self-Care: Getting dressed independently, managing personal hygiene, and using the bathroom on their own
• Sensory Regulation: Managing sensory input during mealtimes, transitions, and classroom activities to reduce distractions and increase focus
• Fine & Gross Motor Skills: Using writing tools, utensils, and engaging in physical activities with better coordination and precision
• Emotional Regulation: Developing strategies to manage emotions, reduce anxiety, and improve emotional responses in different settings
• Social Skills: Building relationships with peers, participating in group activities, and learning social cues for more successful interactions
• Productivity: Increasing focus and attention span for academic tasks, organizing school materials, and following instructions
• Leisure & Play: Engaging in recreational activities, understanding boundaries in group play, and developing motor skills for physical education

These skills are practiced both during therapy sessions and throughout the school day, with support from our trained staff. We also collaborate with families to carry strategies over into home routines, helping students build consistency across environments.

ASD can present uniquely in every student, and the way it affects them can change over time. This can depend on many factors, including the environment around them and the kind of support they receive.

At Autism Journey Academy, we understand that each child has a distinct sensory profile and learning style. 

This is why our occupational therapists develop personalized plans that are specifically tailored to address each child’s sensory needs and patterns. We combine structured, movement-rich activities with play-based learning to support each student's development.

Here are some common activities and strategies that help our students become more regulated and independent in their world.

A sensory diet is a carefully curated daily plan of physical and sensory activities. It helps children stay alert, focused, and better prepared for learning and daily tasks. 

Much like how a healthy food diet fuels the body, a sensory diet fuels the nervous system. A well-designed sensory diet can help your child:

• Feel more alert in the morning
• Stay calm during noisy transitions
• Improve focus in class
• Wind down for rest or quiet time

Our occupational therapist designs the sensory diet after evaluating the student’s unique responses to sensory input. Activities are chosen based on whether the child needs stimulation or calming throughout the day. 

Some common examples of activities that can be included in a sensory diet include:

• Listening to calming music to reduce overstimulation
• Carrying a heavy backpack to provide grounding input
• Jumping on a trampoline to increase alertness
• Squeezing a stress ball during quiet work time

These activities are spaced throughout the day to help students stay focused and engage in their daily routines with greater comfort and regulation.

Sensory circuits are structured, multi-step activity sequences designed to help students start their day and be "ready to learn." These circuits aim to wake up the senses, get the body moving, and prepare the nervous system for the day ahead. 

Sensory circuits include three types of activities:

• Alerting Movements: These are high-energy activities that stimulate the body’s central nervous system. They can include skipping, bouncing on a gym ball, or doing star jumps.
• Organizing Tasks: These exercises require focus and coordination, such as balancing or crawling through tunnels, to get the brain and body working in sync.
• Calming Techniques: These focus on deep pressure and muscle work, such as wall pushes, bear hugs, or weighted lap pads, to soothe the system and improve focus.

These sensory routines can be used in the morning, after lunch, or any time a reset is needed. When children engage in sensory circuits, they often experience improved regulation, reduced anxiety, and increased focus. 

Sensory circuits allow students with ASD to thrive in environments that may otherwise feel overwhelming.

For children with motor coordination challenges, we may incorporate activities that target both fine and gross motor skills.

• Fine motor skills refer to the small movements that involve the use of your hands and fingers. This includes actions like holding a pencil, using scissors, or manipulating small objects. 
• Gross motor skills involve larger movements of the body. It includes actions like running, jumping, or balancing.

We use engaging, goal-oriented activities throughout the school day to develop these skills in students with ASD. Common activities we use include:

• Building with Blocks or Legos: This can encourage the development of hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
• Cutting with Scissors: This is a key activity for building fine motor strength and coordination for writing and other classroom tasks.
• Ball Toss: This type of play can help students work on catching, throwing, and tracking movements, improving hand-eye coordination.
• Obstacle Courses: These are typically designed to work on balance, coordination, and body awareness through activities like crawling under or over obstacles, jumping, and balancing.

These activities help children improve coordination, strength, and agility, which are essential for both daily living and participation in school and everyday activities.

Sometimes, the physical environment itself can create challenges for students with ASD. Thoughtfully modifying these spaces can help students engage more comfortably in daily routines, reduce stress, and improve participation in both learning and social activities.

At Autism Journey Academy, we recognize that how a space is organized can shape a student’s ability to learn and thrive. The CMS Approach™ emphasizes Physical Environment Engineering as a powerful tool for creating spaces where students feel supported and regulated. 

We regularly assess our classroom and school environments to identify potential sensory triggers or barriers to participation. When needed, we implement modifications that make the environment more supportive and manageable for each student’s unique needs.

Some common modifications include:

• Reducing visual clutter in classrooms to minimize distractions
• Offering tools for improved focus, like fidget toys or weighted blankets
• Providing flexible seating options, such as wobble stools or floor cushions
• Using visual schedules and timers to support smoother transitions
• Creating quiet corners or offering noise-canceling headphones to reduce auditory overload
• Adjusting lighting to minimize visual discomfort or glare

These small but meaningful changes can make a big difference in how students feel, focus, and function throughout their day.

Assistive technology includes tools, devices, or software to help students with ASD communicate, learn, and participate more independently in daily activities. These tools can be especially helpful in performing tasks that might otherwise be difficult due to physical, sensory, or cognitive challenges. 

Assistive technology may include:

• Speech-generating devices (SGDs) for students who are nonverbal or have limited verbal skills
• Visual timers and scheduling apps to help with transitions and time management
• Adaptive writing tools, such as pencil grips or slant boards, for fine motor support
• Noise-canceling headphones to minimize sensory distractions in noisy environments
• Tablet-based learning apps that support academic skills and communication
• Keyboards or alternative input devices for students who struggle with handwriting

Occupational therapy can have a lasting impact on a student’s ability to navigate life with greater ease and independence. It provides long-term support by helping them understand their bodies, manage their emotions, and participate more fully in their surroundings.

Here are some benefits your child may experience:

• Reduced sensory overload
• Improved sensory regulation
• Improved motor skills
• Reduced anxiety and increased well-being
• Greater independence in daily tasks
• Enhanced social participation
• Better academic performance

At Autism Journey Academy, we believe that every student deserves the opportunity to thrive in an environment that understands their unique needs and nurtures their potential. Our occupational therapy services are designed to empower students with autism spectrum disorder to navigate challenges that can affect their daily life, learning, and relationships.

We help your children grow more confident, independent, and equipped for the world around them in a supportive environment. 

Enrollment is now open!

We accept Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) funds. Our team is happy to assist families with the ESA application process to make tuition more accessible.

To get started, please call us today or schedule a pre-enrollment discussion.