Occupational Therapy with Miss Karen

I am Karen Sclafani, one of the district’s Occupational Therapists who will be working at Adelphia this school year. I have been practicing pediatric OT for 17 years and have been in the Howell Township School District for 10 years. Please note that I am itinerant, which means I am in multiple buildings throughout the district, on varying days. I can best be reached via email at: [email protected] 

I look forward to working with your child this year!

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapy (OT) is a type of treatment that promotes functional independence in everyday activities. When working with children, an Occupational Therapist evaluates and assists children who are experiencing difficulties with participation in meaningful roles/activities, or “occupations.” OTs seek to enhance children’s ability to carry out their daily routines in an age-appropriate and/or fulfilling manner. In order for a child to qualify for school-based OT services, there must be a functional impact on his/her academic functioning. 

What Skill Areas Does OT Address?

OT addresses limitations in a variety of functional skill areas, including, but not limited to:

• Fine Motor Skills
• Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
• Visual-Motor Skills
• Visual-Perceptual Skills
• Ocular Motor Skills
• Handwriting
• Play Skills
• Sensory Processing Abilities
• Executive Functioning Skills
• Motor Planning Abilities
• Bilateral Coordination
• Muscle Strength/Endurance