Occupational Therapy at Spring Valley School

Pictured:  Anne Walker (SVS Occupational Therapist) on the left, and Lauren Day (SVS Speech Language Pathologist) on the right

Occupational Therapy is one of the many resources Spring Valley School provides for its students. Anne Walker, our Occupational Therapist here at SVS, was able to give a glimpse of what occupational therapy looks like here at Spring Valley School. One of the main goals at Spring Valley is to make every learning environment productive and enjoyable.  

“I try to make therapy feel more like play so that the students can be proud of what they are doing,” Anne explained. 

Occupational Therapy is a form of therapy that helps people participate independently in activities. It allows people of all ages to live independently and gives them a sense of pride in what they are doing. The goal of occupational therapy at Spring Valley School is to have students walk away feeling more confident in themselves and their ability to live independently.  

Why is occupational therapy beneficial for students at Spring Valley School? There are many intersections between occupational therapy and students with learning disabilities. This form of therapy focuses on using multiple strategies to achieve a common goal. The goals of occupational therapy range from refined fine motor skills to basic grooming skills, such as tying shoes. With younger Spring Valley students, Anne focuses on foundational skills. Her time with older students includes advanced skills such as writing and typing. Whatever the goal is, occupational therapy helps give Spring Valley Students a sense of pride.