Occupational Therapy:

Our Occupational Therapists are skilled in addressing a wide range of areas, including:

• Sensory Processing Differences: Helping children manage over- or under-responsiveness to sensory input (e.g., touch, sound, movement), leading to better regulation and participation.

• Fine Motor Skills: Improving handwriting, cutting, drawing, buttoning, zipping, and other small hand movements essential for self-care and school.

• Gross Motor Skills: Enhancing balance, coordination, strength, and motor planning for activities like running, jumping, climbing, and playground play.

• Self-Care Skills: Developing independence in daily routines such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and toileting.

• Emotional Regulation & Self-Regulation: Supporting children in understanding and managing their emotions, attention, and energy levels to better focus and participate.

• Attention & Focus: Strategies to improve concentration, organization, and task completion at home and school.

• Play Skills: Fostering imaginative play, cooperative play, and engagement with toys and peers.

• Executive Functioning: Assisting with planning, organization, problem-solving, and managing tasks.

• Visual Motor & Perceptual Skills: Improving eye-hand coordination and the ability to interpret visual information.

At Ascend Pediatrics, we firmly believe that play is a child's primary occupation and the most effective vehicle for learning and development. Our Occupational Therapists expertly integrate play-based interventions into every session. Through purposeful play, children are motivated and engaged as they:

• Develop Sensory Motor Skills: Swings, obstacle courses, balance beams, and sensory bins are used to challenge and develop motor planning, coordination, and sensory modulation.

• Enhance Fine Motor Control: Manipulating toys, using craft materials, and engaging in constructive play naturally refine dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

• Practice Self-Regulation: Games and activities provide opportunities to practice emotional regulation, turn-taking, problem-solving, and attention in a fun, natural context.

• Build Confidence: Achieving success through play-based challenges builds a child's self-esteem and willingness to try new skills.

• Improve Social Engagement: Structured play activities can foster cooperation, sharing, and communication skills within a safe therapeutic setting.

By making therapy engaging and enjoyable, we help children build the foundational skills necessary to participate more fully in their world, fostering independence and a love for learning and discovery.

Our Occupational Therapy services are built upon evidence-based, best practices and a deep understanding of child development, ensuring effective and individualized support:

• Comprehensive Assessment: We begin with a thorough assessment to understand your child's strengths, challenges, and unique sensory-motor profile.

• Client-Centered Goals: Goals are collaboratively set with families, focusing on functional outcomes that are meaningful and relevant to your child's daily life.

• Integrated Strategies: Our therapists integrate a variety of best practice techniques, including sensory integration strategies, motor learning principles, cognitive behavioural approaches, and adaptive techniques.

• Environmental Modifications: We provide practical recommendations for adapting environments (home, school, community) to better support your child's participation and success.

• Parent Education & Coaching: Empowering parents with knowledge and strategies is key. We provide ongoing guidance and tools to integrate therapeutic approaches into daily routines, fostering consistent progress.

• Advocacy: Our therapists are passionate advocates for your child’s unique strengths and needs. Utilizing a neurodiversity affirming approach, we work closely with families, schools, and other professionals to make sure your child has the tools, accommodations, and environments they need to thrive.

• Direct intervention: This is our "just-right challenge" time. Whether through building an obstacle course, engaging in sensory-rich play, or practicing a new self-care task, our OTs create fun, hands-on opportunities to build skills. We focus on developing fine motor, sensory processing, and emotional regulation abilities in a way that is motivating and feels like play.

• Parent coaching: A child's success is greatest when skills are integrated into daily life. Our OTs provide coaching on how to support your child's sensory, motor, and self-care needs in ways that are manageable and can be woven right into your family's daily routines.

• Home Practice Plans: Our OTs will review practical, play-based activities to continue the progress at home. These plans may be verbal or written and will focus on "what, when, and how" to practice new skills, often using items and activities you already have in your home.

We believe in being transparent about our rates to help you plan for your family’s care. Our fees reflect the specialized training and expertise of our clinicians, as well as the comprehensive care we provide. All Occupational Therapy sessions are set at a rate of $150 per hour, with sessions beginning at 75 minutes in duration. This time includes a 60-minute occupational therapy session and 15 minutes of indirect time dedicated to professional documentation, planning, and care coordination. You or your therapist may agree to having sessions that are longer in duration if you believe your child could benefit from additional direct time with their therapist.

Payment & Coverage

To support our clients and recognize that some may be receiving multidisciplinary services from several providers, we make every effort to provide you with a clear monthly invoice that can be submitted to FSCD or your insurance company. Many of our services are eligible for coverage through extended health benefits. We encourage you to check your FSCD contract agreement or individual health benefits to confirm your specific coverage details.

For more detailed information about our payment methods, cancellation policies, and funding options, please visit our FAQ page.