Raising a child with a disability comes with unique blessings and challenges. As a parent or guardian of a child with cerebral palsy, you want what’s best for your child, but you also know you can’t provide everything they need alone. Every child deserves a future with independence, self-confidence, and quality of life, whether or not they have cerebral palsy. An AchieveAbility Occupational Therapist can help your child move toward all those goals and more. All of our treatment plans are customized to the patient, and our goal is to make therapy as fun and engaging as possible.
What Is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is one of the most common therapies used to help people with injuries or disabilities to develop the skills needed for daily life. Having the ability to perform everyday tasks like getting dressed, going to the bathroom, and preparing meals enables therapy patients to gain more independence in their lives. Our cerebral palsy patients learn how to adapt their day-to-day routine based on their development. The common issues addressed in therapy for cerebral palsy range widely from swallowing, bathing, and going to the bathroom to getting dressed for school, using a phone or computer, or holding a pen. Regardless of the severity of your child’s symptoms, we can help them develop skills to move forward. Our patients with cerebral palsy have experienced profound benefits from occupational therapy. Here are a few you might like to know about.
Building Independence
Because the symptoms of cerebral palsy can vary so much, some patients will go on to live completely independent lives. And while others may never live on their own, they can still learn skills that allow them to be more free inside the safe environment of the family home. Teaching children how to perform basic self-care tasks is central to their independence.
Tools To Succeed Academically And Socially
People without cerebral palsy take their ability to easily navigate the world around them for granted. For children with this condition, a school environment can present a new series of challenges like opening a locker, carrying their books and supplies, holding a writing implement, or using a computer. Additionally, school is a whole new social environment where they’ll need to communicate with their teachers and peers and join in with school activities.
Boost Self-Confidence
We all want to move through life with confidence! It is a very normal human trait, and individuals with cerebral palsy or any other developmental disorder experience the same desire. This therapy aims to evaluate each child’s capacity and guide them so they can develop and live the most free and independent life possible. Knowing they’re capable is a refreshing boost.
Occupation therapy has benefits that extend beyond helping the patient grow. The paitents’ families and loved ones also experience an improved quality of life, more freedom, and less stress when their child can manage their own routine. Parents, this therapy is for you too! Our goal is to make your entire family feel safer and freer. We know you’ll never stop worrying or advocating for your kids. That’s the incredible thing about parents. But you can rest well knowing that your child is able to maneuver the world with some degree of independence.
At AcheiveAbility, we’re here to be your partner in providing all the best resources to help your child thrive. Occupational therapy is an important element of your family’s support system, and our therapists are licensed, experienced, and highly professional. If you and your child need more support, we urge you to contact us for more information and to schedule an evaluation.
