What is Occupational Therapy? Definition, Different Types & Benefits
The National Disability Insurance Scheme, or NDIS, and its never-ending service offerings have made it invisible among people with disabilities. Since its inception in 2016, more than 550,000 Australians with minor or severe disabilities have received life-transforming humanitarian and equipment support. NDIS has much to offer those who wish to be strong and independent. Occupational Therapy, aka OT, is one of its staggering services with massive hype amongst NDIS participants due to its result-driven recovery roadmap and proven results.
In this blog post, we will discover vital insights about NDIS Occupational Therapy. You will learn everything from its meaning and a great deal about its types and benefits to make informed decisions for yourself and the loved ones you believe need it.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy, also known as OT, is a carefully designed treatment that significantly enhances NDIS participants' ability to perform daily tasks. It comes under the "improved daily living" sub-category. Occupational Therapists employ various OT techniques based on condition and injury to help participants achieve their maximum potential, regardless of their physical, mental, or developmental disabilities. Therapists also strategize different methods and activities to help disabled individuals adapt to their environment and learn new skills.
Occupational Therapy is an ongoing, personalized process that identifies individual needs and goals. By working with a skilled occupational therapist, disabled individuals can explore and implement strategies and interventions tailored to their specific circumstances, facilitating their ability to achieve their personal goals.
Different Types of Occupational Therapy (OT)
ND offers various occupational therapy services to help individuals with disabilities achieve their goals, improving their quality of life. These services are all tailored to meet specific needs and may include:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD):
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a well-known condition that affects how the brain develops. People with ASD may behave, interact, and learn differently from others. They may struggle with social interactions, understanding, and using nonverbal and verbal communication. By employing various OTs, therapists perform various screenings and evaluations to control the symptoms and reduce them from high risk to mild.
Developmental Delays:
A child's growth is more than just physical. Children grow, develop, and learn throughout their lives, starting at birth. However, some children find learning, understanding, and picking things more complicated than usual. Here, therapists apply different OT methods to help children with developmental delays improve their fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and sensory processing.
Down Syndrome:
People with Down syndrome are born with an extra copy of chromosome 21, which affects how their brain and body develop. There is no permanent cure for Down syndrome, but occupational therapists provide treatments to improve their daily living skills and help them take part in meaningful activities.
Who can access NDIS Occupational Therapy?
The NDIS is a government-initiated program that provides funding for most of its support services to people with disabilities. Out of that many services, Occupational Therapy is one of the services that the NDIS can fund if a participant meets the eligibility criteria.
Let's find out the eligibility criteria to access funds for OT under NDIS:
- You must be a permanent Australian or have enough evidence that claims you are an Australian resident
- You must be under 64 years of age
- Your disability must likely last for at least 12 months.
- Your disability significantly affects your daily living and learning.
If you meet these eligibility conditions, you can apply for NDIS Occupational Therapy service with the help of officials.
Key Benefits of Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy (OT) comprises numerous benefits, including:
- Teach fundamental daily activities and enhance independence
- Increase agility and boost confidence to participate in various social and community activities.
- Improve wellbeing and quality of life.
- Help perform tasks, lift weights, and make yourself self-sufficient, which leads to physical and mental improvement.
- Work on improving work-life/professional performance and preventing workplace injuries.
Final Takeaway
Occupational Therapy is a proven healthcare profession that focuses on helping individuals across all age groups, from children to older adults, to improve their ability to engage and stay proactive in daily activities and live as independently as possible. This may include dressing, grooming, meal preparation, and participating in leisure activities. The aim is to enable participants to lead self-efficient and fulfilling lives and participate in meaningful activities.
If you seek support on your recovery journey, contact Admire Care . As a registered NDIS service provider in Perth, we offer access to highly qualified occupational therapists dedicated to providing agile and results-driven interventions. They prioritize seamless collaboration and end-to-end assistance, ensuring that individuals receive comprehensive support as they work towards their occupational therapy goals.