Occupational Therapy in Madison
Build Everyday Skills That Support Independence
Occupational Therapy at WEAP
At Wisconsin Early Autism Project (WEAP), pediatric occupational therapy helps children and teens build skills for daily life, including play, movement, self-care, and participation at home, school, and in the community. Our occupational therapy for children focuses on helping each child develop greater independence and confidence through meaningful everyday activities.
Occupational therapy is part of the Interdisciplinary Autism Services Learning Center in Madison. Our care team includes behavior analysts, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and mental health clinicians who work together to support shared goals. The team meets regularly and adjusts plans to ensure care remains consistent across services.
Our interdisciplinary services support children with sensory, motor, developmental, and daily living challenges related to an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis.
What Is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy focuses on how children move, use their hands, and respond to their environment. The goal is to help children take part in everyday activities with more ease and confidence. Pediatric occupational therapy (pediatric OT) helps children develop the functional skills they need to succeed at home, school, and in their communities. An occupational therapist evaluates strengths and challenges, sets practical goals, and uses targeted activities—such as fine motor skills therapy and sensory processing therapy—to build the skills needed for daily routines.
Your child or teen may work on:
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Fine motor skills therapy to improve grasping, handwriting, and using tools |
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Sensory processing therapy to improve sensory regulation and participation in daily activities |
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Daily living skills, including dressing, feeding, and hygiene |
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Motor planning, coordination, and balance |
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Play skills and participation with others |
Who Benefits from Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy supports children with a wide range of needs. Some children have difficulty with coordination or fine motor skills. Others may feel overwhelmed by sound, touch, or movement. Children with autism, developmental delays, sensory processing differences, or motor challenges may all benefit from occupational therapy services.
Your child may benefit from occupational therapy for children if daily routines feel challenging. How do you know if your child needs occupational therapy? Signs may include struggles with getting dressed, feeding, handwriting, using utensils, attention and transitions, or becoming easily overwhelmed by sensory input. A brief screening or comprehensive evaluation with a pediatric occupational therapist can help identify your child’s strengths, challenges, and next steps.
How Occupational Therapy Works
After an evaluation, our team learns your child or teen’s strengths and areas of need. The team then creates a plan with clear, practical goals.
During sessions, your child engages in movement, play, and hands-on activities designed to build everyday skills. Activities may include obstacle courses for strength and coordination, games that promote bilateral hand use, fine-motor skills therapy for grasp and handwriting, and sensory processing therapy strategies, such as swings, deep pressure, or visual supports, to improve regulation and participation across environments. Activities are designed to connect directly to daily routines at home, school, and in the community.
Through individualized sensory processing therapy, therapists help children learn to notice sensations, use calming or alerting strategies, and build tolerance so they can focus, transition, and participate more comfortably. The care team reviews progress often and adjusts the plan as needed to reach goals.
Why Occupational Therapy Matters
Daily skills support independence over time. When children regulate their bodies, use their hands, and engage with their environment, they can participate more fully in everyday life. Through pediatric occupational therapy (pediatric OT), children and teens build confidence in self-care, learning, play, and community participation while developing skills that support long-term success.
Our Madison Location
Get Started with Occupational Therapy
If your child or teen may benefit from occupational therapy, WEAP can help you take the next step.
Whether your child needs support with fine motor development, sensory regulation, self-care skills, or occupational therapy for autism, our pediatric occupational therapists create individualized plans that help children participate more fully in everyday life through fine motor skills therapy, sensory processing therapy, and goal-focused activities.
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