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Physical & Self Care Difficulties 

Physical and self care difficulties

A child or young person with a physical difficulty may struggle with day-to-day activities and need extra support.
This can be due to
  • A physical condition, e.g. cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, arthritis, genetic disorder etc.
  • Delayed development of gross (walking/crawling etc) and/or fine motor skills
  • An injury or illness that causes a short term change to physical functioning.
Support can be found through two services Paediatric Occupational Therapy (OT) and Paediatric Physiotherapy (PT).

Paediatric Occupational Therapy (OT)

Occupational Therapy is concerned with promoting a balanced range of occupations to enhance health and wellbeing. Occupations refer to everything people do in the course of their daily life. Within Hounslow, Paediatric Occupational Therapists work with Children and Young People (CYP) aged 0-18 who have difficulties functioning in daily living activities due to illness, injury, developmental difficulties or neuro disability (e.g. physical disabilities, autism).
The Hounslow Paediatric Occupational Therapy Service is committed to ensure a child and their family are able to function in all aspects of their lives to their maximum potential: self-care (e.g. dressing to go out, eating a meal, using the toilet), productivity / educational attainment (e.g. playing for young children, attending school) and leisure / socialisation (e.g. playing with friends, participating in sports) etc.
Occupational Therapists provide advice and support to parents, carers and other professionals involved and work across a range of settings where different occupations occur (e.g. home, school, clinics etc.). The unique contribution of Occupational Therapy includes:
  • Improving quality of life for children and families
  • Minimising barriers to activity participation
  • Reducing impact of disability
  • Promoting independence and self-management

See More information on Children Occupational Therapy

When would my child need OT?

When your child experiences difficulties in carrying out normal day to day activities such as:
Self-Care
  • Feeding – child is unable to feed him/herself to an age appropriate level
  • Child cannot hold spoon / fork / knife correctly
  • Dressing – child is unable to dress / undress to an age appropriate level
  • Toileting – child is significantly delayed in toilet training


Participation in Productive Activities (in relation to movement and coordination)

  • Ability to use different tools and items, e.g. crayons, pencils, rulers, scissors, puzzles etc. 
Participation in Play and Leisure Activities    
  • Knowing how to explore and play e.g. engagement with toys or play items etc.
  • Doing arts, crafts and having hobbies
  • Games and PE, e.g. accessing climbing frames, ball games etc

Aids and Adaptations Contact Information

You may need changes to be made in your home to help support a child with physical challenges and disabilities.

Aid and Adaptations may be needed in your home.  

The Aids and Adaptations Team may be able to help.

An Occupational Therapy report may be needed to support your request for aids and adaptations in the home.