Occupational Therapy
Head of Department: Belinda Bingham
Belinda holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) and a graduate certificate in Professional Studies (Autism Spectrum Disorders). She has also taken post graduate units of study in sensory integration, sensory processing assessment, sensory processing in autism, and integrating the sensations of the mouth (M.O.R.E program). Belinda joined Giant Steps in 2003. Prior to this, she worked in a range of community health centres, providing Occupational Therapy services to children and their families including in their homes, pre-schools, schools as well as at the centres.
Occupational therapy aims to enable people to function as effectively as possible in their everyday lives.
Many children with ASDs have some kind of sensory processing disorder. This means they process information about their world and their bodies differently to others. This may affect them in a number of ways: poor balance, difficulties planning movements efficiently, difficulties attending to important information, emotional dysregulation, sensitivity to touch and much more. Stressed and overloaded by the physical and sensory world, they may even shut down and close themselves off from learning.
Participation in meaningful life activities is supported by helping the individual to maintain, improve or develop new skills; adapting the environment; and/or adapting the task requirements. Through occupational therapy, a person with autism can be aided both at home, in the community and within the school setting by teaching skills needed for tasks including dressing, feeding, toilet training, grooming, social interaction, writing, manipulation and scissor use, walking, running, playing and sports, and managing classroom expectations.
With its swings, rope ladders, scooter-board ramp and ball bath, the OT (Occupational Therapy) room at Giant Steps is a fun place in which to explore and play, and while in this happy environment the children learn many fundamental skills. The children begin to have an increased tolerance of movement and improve their balance and postural responses. Certain movements, such as the linear movement of our swings, calm and help organise the nervous system. Deep touch through lying under weighted blankets or jumping into the ball bath, is also very calming for children with autism. Once calm and organised they are in a much better place for learning. Similarly, teachers, parents and therapists at Giant Steps work together to ensure that each child’s sensory needs are met across environments and across their day.
