Occupational Therapists work with people who need help completing their daily activities because of injury, disease or congenital issues.  OT’s evaluate an individual’s needs, skills and deficits and use a variety of techniques to increase independence and a sense of well-being.  These techniques include using  current skills to their maximum potential, teaching new skills, adapting the environment, and introducing new products or equipment.

 When working with people with mental retardation, Occupational Therapists often evaluate the individual’s skills and make recommendations in the following areas:

If an individual is having difficulty performing self care tasks such as cooking, bed making, bathing or other daily activities, an occupational therapist can do an evaluation.  Suggestions can be made to help find solutions for increasing a person's independence by adapting the environment, using aids, or trying new training techniques.

If an individual is having trouble eating, an occupational therapist can evaluate chewing and swallowing, food texture, environmental conditions, mealtime equipment and other factors.  Recommendations could include changes in texture or eating position, equipment to make eating easier and neater, or other modifications.  If the problem appears to be related to swallowing, further evaluation by medical staff may be recommended.

Problems with sitting, standing or lying down can affect an individual's comfort and the ability to participate fully in activities.  An occupational therapist can evaluate seating and positioning and make recommendations for improvement.  Additional consultation with physical therapy or other medical resources might be suggested.