OT and ABA…
Although the practices of occupational therapy (OT) and applied behavior analysis (ABA) are distinctly different fields, OT services and ABA services are provided to children with autism and related disabilities.
The underlying philosophies for occupational therapy are eclectic. OT is influenced by the fields of rehabilitation, biomechanical, childhood development, and sensorimotor. OTs treat areas that occupy people’s time. For children, this can include play, activities of daily living, and school.
An OT’s areas of expertise include the following: Fine motor skills, sensory processing and sensory regulation, seating and positioning, visual motor skills, environmental modifications, and adaptive equipment/technology. Although BCBAs are experts in the science of learning, systematic teaching, data analysis, functional assessment, and verbal behavior (language), we do not have training in an OT’s areas of expertise.
At Peachtree Autism Services, we value the support that Sarah provides our team. These services are provided at no cost to families, on an as-needed basis, and may include the following…
Program Consultation:
Recommendations on appropriate classroom furniture (e.g., appropriate tables, seats, shelves)
Arrangement and placement of furniture and materials in rooms to support motor planning
Recommendations on session materials and equipment (e.g., sensory equipment, adaptive scissors, writing utensils)
Program schedule design for learners
Staff training on occupational therapy areas (e.g., proximal stability, sensory processing)
Individual Child Consultation:
Teaching plans to develop fine motor skills (e.g., cutting, writing, tying)
Teaching plans to develop activities of daily living (e.g., brushing teeth, flossing, dressing)
Teaching plans to develop children’s material management skills (e.g., communication device, materials needed to learn)
Meet Sarah Fullerton, M.S., OTR…
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Sarah has been an Occupational Therapist since 2009 and has worked with individuals of all ages and various disabilities. She first earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Health Science, then went on to earn her Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University. There, she developed a passion for promoting independence for individuals through the use of adaptive equipment, motor skills training, environmental modifications, and more. Sarah then worked at the Ingram County Medical Care Facility focusing on the rehabilitation of individuals following orthopedic injury, stroke, and trauma. She specialized in aging in place, facilitating her clients ability to live independently and successfully in their homes. During that time, Sarah published and presented research at the national conference on the effectiveness of home modifications and fall prevention programs on falls and performance of community-dwelling older adults. Sarah’s career continued at the Ivymount School where she applied her experience to students with autism and other developmental disabilities, providing direct services to students and consultation to the multidisciplinary team on best practices for occupational therapy to achieve students’ goals. She loves working with adolescents and is as dedicated to achieving their academic goals as she is their activities of daily living, social participation, work, and play. Sarah’s enthusiasm for promoting success in those around her is encouraging and contagious.
