Life is tough for those whose bodies or minds don’t function in the way that society expects, but NDIS occupational therapy can help. Today we’re looking at what NDIS occupational therapy is, and how it can help improve quality of life.
What Is NDIS Occupational Therapy?
NDIS occupational therapy is a support service designed to help those who live with a disability to improve their quality of life and increase their participation in society. This is achieved by assessing the person’s abilities and lifestyle and identifying areas where improvements could be made that would provide benefit to the individual. The main focus is generally placed on safety and autonomy, but increased capability for leisure and social interaction are also valued highly.
What Are The Benefits Of NDIS Occupational Therapy?
Increased Autonomy
As noted above, one of the main ways that NDIS occupational therapy can be beneficial is by providing support and strategies to help individuals experience greater autonomy within their lives. This is generally done through focusing first on the everyday tasks required for life such as hygiene and bathing, feeding ourselves, dressing ourselves and getting around within our homes and society. Use of any support devices that an individual may require also falls under this category, as does sexual health.
Higher Ability To Care For And Interact With Others
Another aspect that is a significant focus of NDIS occupational therapy is the individual’s ability to care for and interact with others. Things such as caring for pets, communicating with others over the phone or via the internet, shopping for both essentials and pleasure and raising children all fall under this aspect. The ability to operate a motor vehicle would also be considered part of this section, however, whether this type of assistance is required will vary on a case to case basis. Additionally, if the individual who requires NDIS occupational therapy is a person of faith, this aspect would also cover strategies for getting to and participating in religious activities.
Safer Living
Another great way that NDIS occupational therapy can benefit individuals is by helping them to understand safety requirements. Road safety, for example, is a large focus for many as not understanding cars and roads is a common issue for those whose brains do not function in the way that current society demands. Stranger danger is another significant focus when it comes to safety as it can be quite hard to understand whether someone means you harm if you aren’t too great at reading people. Sexual health will also fall under this category, as will the ability of the individual to safely cook for themselves.
Better Sleep
NDIS occupational therapy may not be the first service you think to access if support is required with getting a good night’s sleep but it can actually be quite helpful. Because a big part of this type of support is helping the individual learn how to control their body and align their lifestyle of schedule with associated societal factors, many specialists will offer assistance with sleep. This will generally focus on strategies for falling asleep and staying asleep, however, the specialist will also be able to provide suggestions for creating an environment that is conducive to good sleeping patterns for the individual seeking assistance.
While there are many other ways that this type of support service can help improve quality of life, these four points alone will create major advancements for the individual seeking support. As each advancement is made, new focuses can be brought into the mix, and over time, NDIS occupational therapy can provide the most valuable thing of all – independence.