04/02/2026
What does Occupational Therapy look like? Well, sometimes it looks like a child and their therapist bundling up and heading outside and spending some time digging in the snow, making snow caves and sharing joy and engagement through preferred activities that are absolutely Alaskan!
We wanted to take a moment to celebrate one of many of our clients' big moments or wins from our March intensive. A "win" that was achieved through creative, individualized and intentionally scaffolded treatment that began with therapy activities within the clinic and were able to grow and expand to outside our walls and into the community! Using our intensive model of daily progressing therapeutic activities and sensory integration strategies such as therapeutic listening and heavy work proprioceptive input while honoring a child's special interests and play schemes, we saw this child truly shine!
This friend's family had a goal for him to be able to engage in a non-home based activity without elopement, for a sustained period of time. Before starting therapy at Hands on Therapy, this child struggled to go out in the community and if the family attempted to leave the home, he needed to physically be in contact with his parent at all times. Outings were short and highly emotional and stressful for both parent and child.
Throughout the intensive, alongside his occupational therapist he saw great growth in his ability to participate in clinic based activities and play schemes but really shone when their play moved outside! He spent extended periods with his therapist digging and playing in the snow banks within our parking lot with no elopement and even more importantly, shared joy!
By the end of the month, this child was able to complete his home/community visit with his parent and therapist at the Ice Park where he happily explored, played on the slides and game structures and had a great time in his community with the supports and connections developed over his month of in clinic therapy services.
