Occupational therapy for people with intellectual disabilities
Cognitive difficulties can affect how you process information and carry out everyday activities. Activities that used to come naturally may now require more attention, time or energy. Sometimes you may find that you get distracted more easily, struggle to keep track of things, or that ordinary tasks take more effort.
Perhaps you forget appointments, find it easier to lose track of things, or struggle to plan and complete activities. Problems with concentration, processing information or multitasking can also affect your work, household chores and social activities.
Occupational therapy helps to make daily activities manageable and achievable again. In doing so, we do not focus on improving cognition itself, but on ways to better organise and sustain daily activities.
What do we offer?
Occupational therapy for people with intellectual disabilities focuses on supporting independence and participation in everyday activities.
During an initial assessment, for example, we look at:
- how daily activities take place at home, at school, at work or at a day centre;
- independence in personal care and daily routines;
- understanding, plans and carrying out activities;
- the influence of structure, stimuli and the environment;
- ways of making activities clearer and easier to carry out.
Depending on the situation, our support may consist of advice, skills training, visual aids, structure, assistive devices or practical adjustments that fit in with everyday life.
Who is this offer intended for?
Occupational therapy for people with intellectual disabilities may be appropriate when someone:
- has difficulty with daily activities or maintaining independence;
- needs support with routines and structure;
- wishes to develop greater independence in terms of care or daily activities;
- experiences challenges at school, work or in their daily activities;
- has difficulty coping with changes or new situations;
- needs support in carrying out activities;
- has become dependent on help from others;
- wants to create more opportunities for people to get actively involved.
This service may be suitable for children, young people and adults with an intellectual disability who require extra support with daily activities, independence or participation.
