Skills For Life
Why OT?
Our Skills For Life Occupational Therapists are specialists in guiding neurodivergent adolescents and young adults through their transition to adulthood. They have a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities that this transition may bring. Our occupational therapists collaborate with clients and their families utilizing a holistic approach to support individuals as they embrace this new life stage.
Occupational therapists are unique in their approach of using meaningful activities (“occupations”) – anything from learning how to cook to getting a job – as both a means and as an end. We use an ecological lens to help clients achieve their goals by adapting the environment to fit their strengths and needs. It is through this evidence-based work that occupational therapists empower people with disabilities to be change agents of their own lives.
Our Process
Click through our process for partnering with clients to build skills:
Step 1: Assessing Needs
A member of our team consults with the client and their family to identify areas of strength and need.
Step 2: Identifying Goal Areas
One of our clinicians, an Occupational Therapist, joins the client’s team. The OT collaborates with the client and their family to complete an assessment and identify their goal areas.
Step 3: Creating Action Steps
The client breaks their goals into small action steps with support from the clinician.
Step 4: Prioritizing and Planning
The client and their clinician collaborate to prioritize goals and map a plan for their work together.
Step 5: Building Skills
Through weekly work with the clinician and follow-through during the week, the client builds skills, develops habits, learns and uses strategies, and leverages resources to meet their goals.
Step 6: Tracking Progress
Together, the client and their clinician track progress, using the client’s goals and action steps as metrics.
Step 7: Reaching Goals
When the client’s goals are reached, new goals are set or services are ended.
Our Services
Direct Occupational Therapy Services
- Insurance-funded: Limited to self-care, home management, and health management goals within the home
- Private pay or district-funded: Full model, including home and community-based goals such as community participation, vocational and educational support, and travel training
Transition Assessments (Private Pay or District-Funded)
- Comprehensive evaluation for students ages 16–22
- Covers four domains: postsecondary education/training, competitive employment, independent living, and community participation
- Informs student-centered transition planning
Family Consultation Services (Private Pay)
- Coaching for parents, caregivers, and loved ones
- Strategies to support a young adult’s transition to independent, purposeful living
Insurance vs. Private Pay: What’s Covered?
Insurance Covers (Likely Eligible):
- Self-Care (ADLs): showering, dressing, grooming, oral hygiene
- Home Management (IADLs): cooking, cleaning, laundry, organizing documents, managing communication (email/phone)
- Health Management: medication tracking, scheduling appointments, completing health forms, communicating with providers
Insurance Does Not Cover (Private Pay or District Funding Required):
- Travel training
- Vocational & educational support
- Social participation goals
- Any services delivered in community settings
If starting with insurance-funded OT, goals must stay within the insurance-covered categories to avoid denied claims or unexpected bills.
Which Funding Path Fits Your Needs?
| Your Goals | Recommended Path | Why |
| Self-care, home routines, health management at home | Insurance | Typically considered “medically necessary” |
| Community participation, employment, education, social skills | Private Pay or District Funding | Not covered by insurance; allows full range of services |
| Transition planning for school-aged youth | Private Pay or District-Funded Assessment | Assessments are not covered by insurance |
| Family coaching or consultation | Private Pay | Insurance does not cover sessions for caregivers |
