Occupational Therapy

School-based occupational therapy at Oak Hill School focuses on helping students develop the skills they need to grow into functional, independent adults. Occupational therapy services focus on building and supporting skill sets in the following areas:

• Cognitive skills—remembering letters, shapes and sequences
• Fine motor skills—finger dexterity, wrist and forearm control, and hand strength
• Gross motor skills—balance and body coordination
• Self-care tasks—hygiene, cooking and cleaning
• Social skills—taking turns, listening and following directions

Occupational therapy services at Oak Hill School have been integrated into the educational environment.  This integrated approach calls for increased collaboration between the teaching staff and the occupational therapist.  Therapeutic activities are organized within curriculum areas and permit the OT to carry out activities within the educational environment, without losing sight of the therapeutic goals.  This approach allows the therapist, teaching staff and parents to work together, integrating the student’s various activities into a richer and more productive learning experience, which will help students to more easily achieve both their educational and their therapeutic goals.

Staff Profile: Melsendre Perera, MS/OTR

Mele received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University, where she was a Thurgood Marshall Scholar.  Mele has primarily worked with children since graduation, in a variety of settings, including clinics specializing in sensory integration, school districts, and hospitals. She has received extensive post- graduate professional training in areas related to the pediatric population, including treatment of autism, behavioral management, sensory integration, fine motor development, Handwriting Without Tears, The ALERT program, DIR/Floortime, therapeutic use of yoga, and experience in integrated play groups along with advanced training in Therapeutic Listening and Astronaut Training ( Vestibular -Ocular Protocol). Mele enjoys living in San Francisco. Going to concerts is a favorite past time and taking long hikes with her King Charles Spaniel named Tootsie.