Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center

Occupational Therapy is purposeful, goal-directed activity designed to improve a child’s functioning in the home, school, and community. Occupational therapists, working as a member of a multidisciplinary team, use specially designed tasks in therapy to enable children to function in their daily environments. Activities are selected on the basis of their therapeutic value and the child’s individual needs. These activities may address the following areas: sensory motor processing; gross motor coordination and motor planning; postural development; fine motor coordination/dexterity; visual motor skills; self help skills (feeding, dressing, toileting); functional mobility and positioning; environmental adaptation and equipment design/recommendation; and psychosocial and play skills.

Maximum benefit is achieved from OT services when there is a close collaboration with family members and other therapy team members. OTs on staff at the VBWC regularly collaborate with the Speech-language pathology staff of several specialty teams including Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental Disabilities, School-Age, and Feeding and Swallowing Teams.

Helpful Links

American Occupational Therapy Association
Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation