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What Is Occupational Therapy?

The word "occupation" in occupational therapy does not mean employment, but the tasks you do every day: What occupies your time or attention. The goal of occupational therapy is to assist you or your loved one become fully engaged in life, prepared for challenges and successes.

Occupational therapy helps people with a variety of areas including (but not limited to):

  • self-care,
  • play,
  • work,
  • school, and
  • community.

How Can Occupational Therapy Help Me?

We focus our therapy on your individual needs. We can help you meet goals like:

  • completing dressing and grooming,
  • participating socially with peers,
  • age appropriate play,
  • eating a variety of food with utensils,
  • completing chores or household management tasks independently,
  • return to work, and
  • cook for your family.

Our occupational therapists at the University of Utah Life Skills Clinic work with people of all ages to evaluate each situation and organize a treatment plan which leads to greater independence and satisfaction with the activities that they want and need to do as part of his or her daily routine.

Find A Life Skills Specialist

Neurorehabilitation

We offer services for pediatric ​neurorehabilitation, including:

  • spinal cord injuries,
  • stroke,
  • spina bifida,
  • cerebral palsy, and
  • more.

Financial Assistance

With these services, we have special financial assistance​ through grant funding for pediatric clients with spina bifida or cerebral palsy who have had an acute change in function. This funding also covers physical therapy and speech therapy.

Please contact the clinic to see if you qualify.

Resources About Occupational Therapy

When Does Your Child Need Occupational Therapist

 
 
 
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