Occupational Therapy

Overview

Every Porter Academy student participates in Occupational Therapy in a small-group setting, led by our occupational therapist. OT sessions build the foundational physical, sensory, and cognitive skills that make higher-level learning and daily functioning possible — including:

• Sensory processing
• Gross motor strength and coordination
• Fine motor strength and coordination
• Body awareness
• Handwriting, both print and cursive, through the Handwriting Without Tears program
• Typing
• Visual perception and ocular motor development
• Self-care skills like shoelaces and fasteners (buttons, snaps, zippers)
• Cognitive skills such as memory, sequencing, processing speed, and attention

These foundational abilities are the building blocks for the skills that matter most day to day: independence in daily living, positive social interaction, and academic learning. As we like to say, students need to be physically and emotionally ready before they can fully attend to a teacher — OT is a core part of building that readiness (see Our Approach for more on this idea).

Why Sensory Processing Matters

Sensory processing — the brain’s ability to take in and make sense of information from sight, sound, touch, movement, and body position — underlies far more than physical coordination. It’s foundational to attention, emotional regulation, and academic skills like reading and language comprehension. When a child’s sensory needs aren’t being met, it can show up as stress, difficulty focusing, or trouble regulating emotions — all of which get in the way of learning. Peer-reviewed research supports this connection: studies by Pfeiffer et al. (2011) and Smith et al. (2005), both published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, found that sensory integration interventions improve sensory processing, self-regulation, and social-emotional functioning. This is why sensory-motor activities are built into each student’s day, not treated as a separate add-on.

Collaboration with Classroom Teachers

Occupational Therapy at Porter Academy doesn’t happen in isolation from the classroom — our occupational therapist works closely with every teacher to make sure what happens in OT carries over into daily learning:

• Teachers participate in OT groups to better understand how to build foundational skills with their students
• Our OT and teachers collaborate on classroom tools and strategies that support individual students or the whole class
• Sensory diets are developed collaboratively, both for the group as a whole and for students who need additional support
• Visual and motor skill-building activities are integrated directly into classroom routines
• Our OT works alongside teachers and other specialists to implement Zones of Regulation school-wide (see Our Approach for more on this framework)

Further Reading

• Hannaford, C. (2005). Smart Moves: Why Learning Is Not All In Your Head.
• Pfeiffer, B. A., Koenig, K., Kinnealey, M., Sheppard, M., & Henderson, L. (2011). Effectiveness of sensory integration interventions in children with autism spectrum disorders: A pilot study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65, 76–85.
• Smith, S. A., Press, B., Koenig, K. P., & Kinnealey, M. (2005). Effects of sensory integration intervention on self-stimulating and self-injurious behaviors. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 59, 418–425.
• Levinson, H. N. (1988). The cerebellar-vestibular basis of learning disabilities in children, adolescents and adults: Hypothesis and study. Perceptual and Motor Skills.