Personal

Did you know that some OT activities can also help to improve children's grades? With better sensory integration, children can focus better and learn more efficiently. Paediatric occupational therapy doesn't just benefit neurodiverse children or children with severe developmental delays. Children are constantly going through different developmental phrases, and having a therapist to assist, notice and suggest improvements can go a long way. 

In this Guest Speaker session, we invite occupational therapist Rachael Beardmore to share more about her work as an occupational therapist, and how parents can consider to incorporate occupational therapy activities as part of their children's education and development.

What is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist?

Occupational therapists are specialists who receive advanced, interdisciplinary education and training in health and human sciences. Their coursework is one of the most holistic in the healthcare fields, including studies in anatomy and physiology/physical human function, neuroanatomy and neurological function, psychology and mental health, social and educational needs and development across the lifespan from birth through old age. After graduating with a degree in occupational therapy, practitioners can work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, mental health facilities, community services, homes and schools.

The focus of their work depends on the population with whom they are working. Paediatrics is the broadest specialty within occupational therapy, as it requires extensive knowledge of development from birth-18 years, as well as detailed knowledge of a large variety of developmental delays and disabilities that may impact upon a child’s cognition and learning, physical function, sensory processing, and social-emotional development.

The goal of occupational therapy is to enable clients to function at their highest level of potential and independence in the activities of their daily lives. As a holistic approach, occupational therapy focuses on generating growth, change and progress within the client, educating and working collaboratively with parents, caregivers, teachers and anyone else working with the child, as well as adapting tasks or the environment (when possible) to allow the client to become successful. For children, their primary daily activities involve self-care, school/academics, social activities, sports and activities within their community.

Paediatric occupational therapy therefore focuses on the underlying motor, sensory, neurological, physical, visual, social and emotional factors that contribute to each child’s independence and successful participation in home-, community-, and school-based tasks. Children must feel safe and be in a regulated state to learn, and they are more motivated, more attentive, and better able to learn when therapy is presented through play-based activities that engage the child’s individual interests and when learning is achieved through specific, evidence-based interventions.

Rachael is a dynamic, client-centered therapist with over 12 years of experience working as a paediatric OT in the U.S.A., Singapore and the U.K. She holds dual bachelor's degrees in Business Administration and Human Development & Family Studies, as well as a master's degree in Occupational Therapy from A.T. Still University in Arizona, U.S.A. She is fully registered with the HCPC (U.K.), NBCOT (U.S.A.), and AHPC (Singapore) and is licensed in the state of Colorado (DORA). She is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT), and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

Rachael worked with children from birth to 18 years old and provided clinic, school, community and home-based occupational therapy services all over the world with varying needs and levels of ability. In addition, Rachael held the positions of senior, principal and lead occupational therapist, managed an OT department and supervised and mentored other therapists from around the world before shifting into independent practice.

Rachael now has her independent practice in the United Kingdom and provides teletherapy, home-based and school-based private sessions for children from infancy through late teens.

The benefits of occupational therapy in children's education