In 2023, all Occupational Therapists will be hearing more and more about inclusivity and neurodivergence in the classroom, as this topic has come more to the forefront of pediatric therapy recently. Celebrating, assisting and respecting neurodivergent individuals means recognizing neurodiversity as a unique culture of its own, and the following tips can help make that switch in your OT practice.

Here Are a Few Ways You Can Be More Inclusive in Your OT Practice

Listen to Your Students

Listening to the opinions of neurodivergent individuals can make a huge impact when it comes to your making therapy decisions in 2023. This can not only mean listening to the students in your classroom, but also to other neurodiverse individuals. In order to do the most help, you must learn to appreciate the perspectives of people who have used OT, and what helped (or in any instance, harmed) them.

Use AAC Devices and Technology

For many neurodivergent students who have different communication skills and abilities, AAC devices can be extremely beneficial. While some schools and therapists hesitate to recommend these devices for fear they may inhibit verbal speech, that notion has not been proven with any sort of evidence or data. For students with difficulty communicating or who may compound that difficulty with behavioral concerns, an AAC device could be extremely beneficial to them.

Focus on Student Strengths

In order to be the most effective Occupational Therapist for neurodiverse students, you must focus on students’ strengths. This means that for evaluations, you should be taking the time to truly understand a student, their strengths, their skills, and then use those things to decide where their intervention and curriculum should go. This can be much more beneficial for them as opposed to focusing only on things they can’t do yet.

Looking for a Better Occupational Therapy Job?

If you’re looking for a school OT job, Spotter Staffing can help! We place Occupational Therapists in Illinois and Texas with amazing classrooms where you can impact the lives of wonderful students. Click here to find open OT jobs or contact our team today! We are available to help with all your job search needs.