There are many resources to help people with special needs live life to the fullest. One of the best avenues to achieve this is therapy. Therapy can range from a wide variety ranging from physical therapy to psychological therapy. Each form of therapy has its own goal in making opportunities more accessible for those with special needs. However several types of therapies can work together to make a bigger impact. While the way therapy is being administered has changed a lot during this virus, thankfully, most therapies have a variety of virtual options. In this article, we will present a variety of therapy options so you can determine what is best for you.
Physical Therapy: PT focuses on exercise to focus on movement, strengthening, pain reduction, and strategies to increase safety. Therapists often work with people that have chronic illnesses or physical special needs, who often use mobility devices such as braces, wheelchairs, and walkers. PTs help their patients to think about how to enhance their medical health and wellbeing.
Occupational Therapy: OT focuses on helping people to achieve their life goals which can vary with each person. From trying to tackle obstacles that may be hindering everyday life skills for people with CP to helping people with autism manage sensory related issues, OTs work with a very wide range of abilities and are very holistic. Another way to describe OTs is that they are natural problem solvers.
Sensory Integration Therapy: This is a branch of OT that works with people with autism. Therapists work to facilitate the processing of senses such as sound, touch, and smell. It is based on repeated exposure of sensory stimuli to increase comfort when senses are activated.
Speech Therapy: ST is centered around enhancing communication and oral motor skills. Therapists work on strengthening muscles in the mouth through drills in order to improve clarity, enunciation, and articulation. Another name for speech therapists is “speech and language pathologists”.
Psychological Therapy: These therapists help people with mental special needs and illnesses to promote self and social growth. A common type of psychological therapy for people with autism is behavioral therapy, which focuses on developing skills to interact with their environment and peers. Psychologist and therapist focus on mental health and growth of a person.
Music Therapy: This type of therapy can have multiple benefits. Different types of music can help encourage movement and provide emotional support and understanding of each other. Learning how to sing is also valuable for speech therapy skills such as enunciation and providing a way to get out emotions.
Pet Therapy: From helping people navigate their physical surroundings to being a friend that gives love and emotional support, pets can be the best friend of a person with special needs. These pets undergo rigorous training to provide the right support and are very gentle.
Group Therapy: This type of therapy is based on the interaction between people with similar needs. Often times, hearing one’s experience and how they cope with challenges can be very empowering. People who are in a support group can learn from each other’s experiences and form valuable connections.
Yoga Therapy: Yoga is a type of therapy that enhances a person’s overall well-being. It focuses on postures and breathing. While working to develop flexibility and range of motion, it also helps to de-stress and to keep a calm mind. This is an effective type of therapy to support physical and mental health. There are many yoga groups that adapt their exercises to people with physical special needs
Apart from these options, there are many valuable resources on YouTube with accessible exercises you can do right at home. It is especially important to stay fit during this time and thankfully, there are many resources to do so.
As you can see, there are a variety of therapies that can work together to have a positive impact on the lives of people with special needs. We hope that this article can help you find the right types of therapy for you.