{"id":524,"date":"2020-04-06T16:25:53","date_gmt":"2020-04-06T20:25:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iblog.dearbornschools.org\/lillyl\/?p=524"},"modified":"2020-04-06T16:30:17","modified_gmt":"2020-04-06T20:30:17","slug":"april-a-month-to-celebrate-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iblog.dearbornschools.org\/lillyl\/2020\/04\/06\/april-a-month-to-celebrate-2\/","title":{"rendered":"April: A Month to Celebrate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

April is a very busy month! I hold this month very close to my heart as it is Autism Awareness Month<\/strong> and Occupational Therapy Month.<\/strong> As an occupational therapist, I have worked with many children and adults with autism.\u00a0 What is autism or autism spectrum disorder?\u00a0 Autism is a developmental disability that causes significant difficulties with a person\u2019s social characteristics, communication and behavior. People with autism demonstrate decreased social, emotional, and communication skills. Individuals may also repeat certain behaviors and have a difficulty with a change in routine.\u00a0 Autism Speaks is a worldwide organization that is an excellent resource to learn more about autism.\u00a0 Since the foundation of Autism Speaks in 2005, the organization \u201chas grown into the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.\u201d Please click on the following links to get an in-depth description of autism, causes, symptoms, treatment, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/ncbddd\/autism\/index.html<\/a> https:\/\/www.autismspeaks.org\/what-autism<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"autism<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"autism<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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In celebration of OT month, here is some information taken directly<\/em> <\/strong>from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) website at https:\/\/www.aota.org\/Conference-Events\/OTMonth\/what-is-OT.aspx<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent\u2014or live better with\u2014injury, illness, or disability.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Occupational therapy services typically include:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n