Occupational Therapy Interventions for Children and Youth Ages 5 to 21 Years

Abstract

Evidence Connection articles provide a clinical application of practice guidelines developed in conjunction with the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA’s) Evidence-Based Practice Program. Each article in the series summarizes the evidence from the published reviews on a given topic and presents an application of the evidence to a related clinical case. The articles illustrate how the research evidence from the practice guidelines can be used to inform and guide clinical decision making. In this Evidence Connection article, we describe a case report of a child receiving occupational therapy services and summarize the evaluation and intervention processes for supporting sleep, activities of daily living, and social participation. The practice guideline on this topic was published in the July/August 2020 issue of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (Cahill & Beisbier, 2020).

Preliminary mixed‐methods investigation: Impact and acceptability of a combined life skills and adventure therapy program for adolescents

“…Guidelines for occupational therapy intervention with adolescents with disabilities suggest that intervention should address activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), social participation, play and leisure through ‘participation in and performance of functional life skills’ (Beisbier & Cahill, 2021, p. 2). These guidelines also suggest therapists should increase focus on supporting transition into adulthood through interventions targeted towards client‐centred goals.…”