OT101 GLA Section B by Ezekiel Jules Codiñera

Case

julezcodinera — 2025-10-18 06:55:04 UTC

Ethan is a 6-year-old boy diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). He has difficulty maintaining eye contact, following routines, and participating in social play at school. His parents report frequent meltdowns during mealtime and dressing, and they often feel overwhelmed by the demands of daily care. Ethan currently attends kindergarten and receives speech therapy twice a week. The occupational therapist has been referred to help improve sensory processing, self-regulation, and social participation.

Interactive

2025-10-18 12:51:15 UTC

As an occupational therapist, my focus is on building a trusting and engaging therapeutic relationship with Ethan and his family. Interactive reasoning helps me understand how Ethan communicates and responds emotionally during sessions. Since he has difficulty with eye contact and social play, I would use playful, sensory-based activities to connect with him and gradually build interaction. I’d follow his lead, use positive reinforcement, and adjust my tone and pacing to his comfort level. I would also communicate with his parents empathetically, validating their feelings and guiding them on consistent strategies for home routines. By creating a safe and predictable environment, I can help Ethan feel secure and motivated to participate, which supports progress in sensory processing, self-regulation, and social participation.

Conditional

2025-10-18 17:35:49 UTC

Conditional reasoning helps the occupational therapist imagine what Ethan's future could look like with the right support, when considering about his situation. The therapist considers how changes in his environment, sensory strategies, and family routines might shape his progress over time. For example, if Ethan learns ways to stay calm during mealtime or dressing, his daily life could feel smoother for both him and his parents. The therapist looks at the “what ifs”, what if Ethan feels more comfortable at school? What if he can join group play with confidence? This type of reasoning helps guide a plan that not only supports his current needs but also builds toward meaningful growth in his relationships, routines, and independence.

Narrative

2025-10-19 04:22:01 UTC

Narrative reasoning allows the occupational therapist to understand Ethan’s story — his experiences, emotions, and the meaning behind his behaviors. Instead of focusing only on his difficulties, the therapist listens to how Ethan’s parents describe daily life, the challenges they face, and the moments that bring them joy. By understanding their perspective, the therapist can connect interventions to what truly matters to Ethan and his family.

For example, if mealtimes are stressful because Ethan avoids certain textures, the therapist might explore what mealtime means to the family, perhaps it’s a time they value for bonding. Knowing this, the therapist can design strategies that make mealtimes more positive and meaningful, not just manageable. Through narrative reasoning, the therapist sees Ethan not as a list of symptoms but as a child with a unique story, personality, and family life. This approach helps ensure that therapy goals align with the family’s values and Ethan’s sense of self, fostering genuine engagement and progress.

Pragmatic

julezcodinera — 2025-10-19 07:06:15 UTC

The occupational therapist must consider the external and internal factors that might affect the client's ability to cope. This includes his age, school setting, family dynamics, and the resources available. Ethan's parents often feel overwhelmed due to the demands of care, the therapy should be designed in a way that fits their schedules and routines. The occupational therapist should collaborate with Ethan's teachers and speech therapist to ensure consistency across settings. It is also very important that the occupational therapist adapt to the client's attention span. Utilizing pragmatic reasoning helps balance what is ideal in theory with what is possible in practice, ensuring a realistic therapeutic approach to Ethan and the people around him.

Procedural

fjillianneazuro — 2025-10-19 11:12:15 UTC

In this approach, the OT would analyze Ethan's case by identifying what his performance deficits are and determining the appropriate interventions. Based on his case, the OT will focus on assessing sensory processing, self-refulation, and participation in social participation. Standardized assessments may be used to evaluate sensory modulation and functional abilities.

The OT will then plan structured, goal-directed interventions that will target Ethan's difficulties in mealtime routines, dressing, and social play. Interventions may include sensory integration activities to improve regulation, visual schedules to support routine following, and socal skills training to improve his interaction with his peers. The OT will then monitor Ethan's responses and adjust the activities to better accommodate him.