🧠 Occupational Therapy and Autism: A Strength-Based Method

The field of occupational therapy (OT) has seen a dramatic change in recent years, moving away from attempting to "fix" autistic behaviours and towards promoting the strengths and sensory demands of neurodivergent people. "We don't need to be changed—we need to be understood," as many autistic individuals have been saying for decades, is reflected in this change.

Welcome to the neuro-affirming, strength-based approach to occupational therapy.

"Neuro-affirming": What Is It?

Neurodivergence, including autism, ADHD, and other neurological differences, are respected and welcomed in neuroaffirming practices. Rather than making kids "mask" or seem neurotypical, neuroaffirming occupational therapists:

Give the child's experiences credibility.

Accommodate sensory preferences.

Work with natural thought, movement, and communication patterns rather than against them.

It has nothing to do with "normalizing."
It's about living a genuine life.

💪 The Strength-Based Perspective:

Conventional methods frequently emphasize deficiencies. However, strength-based OT queries:

✧What is it that this child excels at?

✧What makes them glow?

✧How can we promote growth using such strengths?

✅For instance, a child who is hyper-focused on trains is not "obsessed"; rather, they are exhibiting memory, pattern recognition, and intense attention. To help with emotional control, executive function, or fine motor development, an occupational therapist may employ train-related activities.

another example is 🦕The Dinosaur Enthusiast:

A child with remarkable memory, vocabulary, and a strong sense of interest is not being "rigid" if they talk endlessly about dinosaurs and know every species by heart. 

A neuroaffirming occupational therapist could use this enthusiasm in a number of therapeutic contexts:

‣Fine Motor Development: During putty play, obstacle courses, or sensory bins, use dinosaur figurines to grab, squeeze, and manipulate.

‣Create a "dinosaur expedition plan" that calls for sequential tasks using executive function (e.g., "First we find the fossils, then we clean them, then we identify them").

‣Emotional Control: Create a relaxing routine using images of dinosaurs (e.g., a "Dino Den" calm nook or "T-Rex breath" for deep breathing).

Without imposing conformity, the therapist uses their area of expertise to establish rapport, encourage participation, and promote growth.

🛠️Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practices for Children and Teens with Autism:

You can anticipate the following neuro-affirming, research-supported techniques from a contemporary OT approach:

1. Integration of Sensations—On Their Terms
Rather than putting an end to stimming, we respect and encourage self-regulation by using movement, deep pressure, or child-specific sensory diets. This is just little shift on the practical approach :-)

🧪 Research: American Occupational Therapy Association (2023) Ayres Sensory Integration® with children ages 0 to 12 years: A systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79(3), pp. 1–14. Available at: https://research.aota.org/ajot/article/79/3/7903205180/27150/Ayres-Sensory-IntegrationR-With-Children-Ages-0-to (Accessed: 20 May 2025).

2. Prior to Self-Regulation, Co-Regulation
Children are not supposed to self-regulate in a vacuum. OTs serve as role models for peaceful, secure interactions that foster co-regulation and trust.

👩‍⚕️ OT Tip: Engage in shared activities, emotional naming, and regular routines that enable the safe expression of delight, frustration, and overstimulation.

3. Encouraging Choice to Promote Autonomy
When offered meaningful choices, children are more likely to participate. This could entail deciding on the activity itself, the environment, or the sequence of tasks.

💡 Real-World Example: "Want to use your dinosaur or Spider-Man shirt to practice dressing skills?"

4. AAC and Visual Supports
There is more to communication than just talking. In order to promote understanding and expression, OTs frequently work with SLPs to implement visual schedules, social stories, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

◆Proof: AAC is a legitimate, empowering communication tool that has been demonstrated to lower frustration and increase involvement; it is not a "last resort."

5. Child-Led, Play-Based Therapy
The power of therapeutic play is immense. The child's occupation in OT is play, which is also frequently where learning, motor skills, and emotional development occur most naturally.

🌟 Approach: Allow the youngster to lead. Rather than pulling people into our world, the OT becomes a part of theirs.

🤝Cooperation Is Essential:
An OT that uses neuro-affirming techniques doesn't operate alone. We:

‣Collaborate with careers to incorporate techniques into everyday activities.

‣Encourage the provision of accommodations in educational contexts.

‣Offer parents emotional support as they navigate support networks and diagnosis.

🧩Final Thoughts: From Struggles to Strengths:

At QuantummindOT, we believe that supporting autistic children isn’t about "fixing" who they are — it’s about understanding their struggles and using their strengths to overcome them.

When we approach therapy with compassion, creativity, and evidence-based strategies, something powerful happens:

✨ As we help address the challenges, their unique potential leads the way — and that’s when real flourishing begins.

It’s not about changing who they are.
It’s about supporting who they’re meant to become.

💬 What’s Next?

Do you work with autistic children? Are you a parent or educator looking for neuroaffirming strategies? Drop a comment or message us—we’d love to connect!

📍 Follow @QuantummindOT for more content on neurodiversity, sensory regulation, and therapeutic play.