THERE is a crucial need to introduce occupational therapy (OT) facilities in both educational institutions and workplaces. OT is commonly employed in a number of countries to evaluate the children facing frequent developmental challenges.

As practised in the Western world, school-based OT practitioners use meaningful activities to assist the children in improving their wellbeing both physically and mentally. The therapy emphasises on activities along with environmental analysis and adaptation with the objective of eliminating any obstacles that are faced during active engagement and participation.

Pakistan has barely a few hundred certified occupational therapists. Their services remain neglected due to lack of awareness even among our healthcare providers. Moreover, OT programmes in schools are severely limited due to a lack of funding and resources, which negatively impacts the growth of children with special needs. The traditional approach of giving one-on-one sessions to such children has the potential to result in stigmatisation and lower self-worth among them. The approach needs to change in the light of the progress that has been made in the larger OT domain.

Maha Saleem
Lahore

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2024