From Applesauce to Independence: How OTs Support Student Success

Occupational therapists play a vital role in addressing students' physical, sensory, cognitive, and emotional needs to ensure their success within the educational environment. OTs engage in:

• Direct intervention supporting individual student needs.
• Adapting the school setting to foster a conducive learning atmosphere.
• Collaborating with teachers and families to enhance students' independence and active participation in academic and daily school activities.

OTs responsibilities may include developing fine motor skills for writing and participation in classroom activities, managing sensory challenges, promoting social skills, and recommending assistive technology to support learning. Bloomfield Hills Schools are fortunate to have OTs who work with our students in all of our buildings.

Often, BHS’ occupational therapists discover creative methods to integrate therapy into activities. Recently, students at Wing Lake Development Center made homemade applesauce during their occupational therapy session. The students utilized a manual apple peeler, which helped them concentrate on their visual attention and task maintenance, as well as upper extremity range of motion, and grip strength.  They also used their fine motor skills to pick up the diced apples and transfer them into the crock pot. 

The process of making applesauce offered significant benefits for enhancing sensory input processing in students. By engaging in this activity, students experienced a range of sensory stimuli: they touched raw apples, smelled the aroma as the apples cooked, observed the transformation in texture and color as the apples softened, listened to the bubbling and mashing sounds, and finally, savored the taste of the finished product. This multisensory experience helped foster stronger connections and opened various pathways for processing information.

BHS thanks and appreciates all of the district occupational therapists who tirelessly dedicate themselves to supporting our students.