Occupational therapy for developmental stages

Occupational therapy activities and goals will look different throughout a child's life, from infants and toddlers to elementary-age kids, middle and high school kids, and adults.

What does occupational therapy look like for different ages of kids?

Signs a child needs occupational therapy

A child may benefit from occupational therapy if they have difficulties with fine motor skills, transitions, spatial awareness, and more. See our full list.

Does my child need occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy vs. physical therapy for kids

While the two modes of therapy can overlap, the main difference between physical and occupational therapy is the focus.

What is the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy?

What is occupational therapy used for?

Occupational therapy can help with a variety of skills, such as fine and gross motor, visual motor, executive functioning, and more.

How could occupational therapy help my child?

California Ombudsman Program Assistance

An ombudsperson becomes involved in conflict after prevention and disagreement. If the dispute cannot be solved after disagreement, individuals have the options of facilitation, mediation, and the Office of Ombudsman.

When should I get the Office of Ombudsman involved?

California Ombuds Office Options and Duties

The Office of Ombuds may recommend changes in policies and procedures. It assists in complaints by explaining rights and policies, but it doesn't file appeals.

How can an ombudsman office help?

Ombudsman office definition

What is an ombudsman?

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Definition

The Common Core State Standards provide a roadmap for teachers detailing what children should know at each grade level. The standards progress from kindergarten through twelfth grade and build on one another.


What are the Common Core State Standards (CCSS)?

How Physical Therapy Helps Kids at School and at Home

Learn about the benefits of starting physical therapy early in a child’s life, how PT can change over time, treating high and low muscle tone, the use of orthotics, and more.

Physical Therapy 101

What Is Occupational Therapy for Kids?

Occupational therapy helps enable people to participate in the activities of daily life. Learn about what OT looks like at school vs. a clinic and how OT can help children through different developmental stages.

Occupational Therapy (OT) 101

Ombudsman Office Contact Info for California

Learn what the office of ombuds is when it comes to education, public benefits, and insurance, and get contact information for several important ombuds offices in California.

What Is an Ombudsman?

Working with a New Teacher on an IEP

A huge part of setting up your child for success throughout the upcoming months is communicating with their teacher. Check out these tips for smoother follow-up.

4 Tips for Communicating with Your Child’s Teacher

Special Education Services and Individualized Education Programs

Learn about special education services, everything you need to know about IEPs, and how to advocate for the services and supports your child needs.

Education and IEPs

Insurance Options for Parents of Kids with Disabilities

Whether you’re using private insurance or public benefits like Medi-Cal or a combination of the two, get tips on how to fund the supports and services your child needs.

Insurance

What to Do When Your Child Has Received a New Diagnosis

Has your child received a new diagnosis? Are you concerned about a developmental delay? Check out these resources to help you navigate medical services, funding, and more.

New Diagnosis

Public Benefits - Government Programs for Children with Disabilities

Depending on your income, your child’s age and diagnosis, and other factors, there are a variety of government programs available to you.

Public Benefits

Helping Kids With Disabilities Manage Anxiety, Stress, & Mental Health

Learn how to help your child manage stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges with these resources from therapists and other experts.

Mental Health In Children with Disabilities

Financially Supporting Your Child With Disabilities into Adulthood

Check out our resources to help plan your child's transition into adulthood and set them up for success.

Future and Financial Planning

Family Life - Advice for Parenting Children with Disabilities

Parenting a child with disabilities comes with unique joys and challenges. Learn how to meet your family's diverse needs and how to talk about disability together.

Family Life

Self-Care for Parents Raising Children With Disabilities

Raising a child with disabilities can place a lot of demands on parents. Check in with your own mental and physical health needs through these resources.

Self-Care for Parents

Regional Center

Regional Center Early Intervention (Ages 0–3)

Self-Determination Program

Medi-Cal

IHSS: In-Home Supportive Services

Other Public Funding Sources

IEP: Individualized Education Program

IEP Meeting Preparation

Preschool IEP

IEP Assessments

Strength-Based IEP Goals

Educational Accommodations, Modifications, and Curriculum

Educational Transitions

Learning At Home

Educational Placement

Educational Inclusion

Parenting

Camps and Travel

Supporting Therapies and Education at Home

Disability Culture and Advocacy

Private Insurance

Public Insurance Programs

Therapies

Education-Based Therapies

Behavioral Intervention Therapies

Funding Sources For Therapies

AAC: Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Therapy at Home

504 Educational Plans

Medical

Therapies (Ages 0-3)

IEP-Related Services

After the IEP

Estate Planning Tips for Families Raising Kids with Disabilities

Estate planning means making vital decisions about our children’s care, our assets, and our own medical care — and it requires writing those decisions down in legal documents. The process can seem overwhelming, which is why we brought in some help!

3 Tips for Parents Diving into Estate Planning

IEP Prep Tips and Advice for Parents

Being an advocate for your child can make a world of difference when it comes to the services and supports written into their IEP.  Hear how one parent and an Undivided Navigator came together to make sure a kindergartener had her needs met.

3 Tips for Advocating for Your Child in an IEP Meeting

How Are Students with Disabilities Protected from Discriminatory Discipline?

Recently, new guidance on behavior-related school discipline was issued by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. We sat down with special education advocate and owner of KnowIEPs Dr. Sarah Pelangka (Ph D, BCBA-D) to find out what the new guidance means for our kids.

How Students with Disabilities Are Protected from Discriminatory Discipline

Basics of Estate Planning for Young Families & Families with Dependent Children

Does the thought of estate planning give you heart palpitations? You’re not alone. Former estate attorney and current Assistant Attorney General Brianna Davidson Jarrett gently shows us why estate planning doesn’t need to feel impossible to tackle, and why we absolutely have to do it. 

Estate Planning — We Dread It, But We Gotta Do It, with Brianna Davidson Jarrett

Advocating for Inclusion with Supports in Kindergarten

Undivided Parent and Navigator duo Isabelle Smith and Kelly Hatfield talk about how they worked together to advocate for inclusion with supports, language immersion, and retention. Isabelle shares how her advocacy affected her daughter’s kindergarten experience.