How do I know which OT to go to?

Occupational Therapists can be found in government and private hospitals, centers providing rehabilitation services, in the non-profit organization centers. In the area of pediatrics or some OTs travel from home to home providing home services. For OTs working with children, they can be found in school settings, private centers offering multi-disciplinary services, in the non-profit organization centers, and OTs who do home visits.

What should parents look out for? (Prices, idle chatters during the therapy and etc…)

• Does higher charges mean better quality?

• Location and accessibility factors for consistent therapy sessions

• Are big centres with a lot of OT in the team always better?

It is good for parents to inquire the center about the existence of OT in the center and qualification of the Occupational Therapist, not for the purpose of challenging the experience of the OT. Rather, to make sure that the center does provide legitimate OT services, conducted by am OT each time you send your child for treatment. 

Chats amongst parents regarding which OT or center they go to, the effectiveness of therapy observed by parents, whether they click with the OT and generally happy with the center/ OT, the prices they pay in the center, whether the center provides package prices and what kind of services they offer, is common. Parents also discuss amongst themselves if the center provide full day or half day when they go to a center.

As such prices differ center to center, depending on the list of services they provide and the location, and who their target market is. Hence, it can go from exorbitant price to the common charges. 

A note to ponder would be does it mean the higher the charges, the better the service? It depends from center to center, and what the working culture is like at the center. Environment may be much more appealing, more facilities, more staff and the center would usually be big.

What do you exactly do you look for in an OT?

1. Passion in what they do 

2. Some OTs may attain masters and so on, but what do you see in their attitude when working with your child – do they go the extra mile for your child? 

3. Commitment in providing solutions for your child, or do they tell you what you already know about your child, but don’t give much solutions

4. Do they have the best interest of your child’s development and growth, as they see your child weekly, or it is just another session

5. How effective is their treatment in bringing about results

6. Do they understand the current needs of your child, or it is by the textbook? 

7. Do they want to establish relationship with you whilst working with your child? 

This is not a green card for parents to judge the center or the OT, rather it is something for parents to look out for because you need to consider carefully how will your child be developing in their growth – is it fast enough to help close the disability gap of your child with typical child. In other words, their future is at stake if as a parent, you take things lightly.