When Connection Feels Out of Reach: How Occupational Therapy Helps Families Find a Way In
Distributed by Lanham Media on Behalf of LiveBig
When Connection Feels Out of Reach:
How Occupational Therapy Helps Families Find a Way In
For parents of children with developmental delays, such as autism spectrum disorder, or psychosocial disability, the hardest moments aren’t always the meltdowns or missed milestones — it’s the feeling of being shut out. Of trying everything and still not knowing how to connect with your child. Of giving up, not out of lack of love, but out of heartbreak and exhaustion.
“Sometimes parents come to us feeling like they’ve tried it all — and nothing works. Their child avoids touch, won’t make eye contact, doesn’t engage in play. It’s easy to lose hope,” says Camila Santarosa, Occupational Therapy Team Leader at LiveBig, a leading allied health provider for people with disabilities and those on the NDIS.
Occupational therapists are some of the most versatile professionals working in the disability space. Whether it’s helping a toddler build emotional regulation, supporting a child with dressing and toileting, or working with a teenager on budgeting and independent living, OTs focus on the everyday tasks that build confidence and independence.
“The starting point is always to meet the child where they are. Not where we wish they were,” says Camila. “If that means lying on the floor playing peek-a-boo at age four, that’s where we start. Connection comes first. Always.”
The Quiet Work of Everyday Progress
At LiveBig, Occupational Therapists work with people of all ages and diagnoses, though two of the most common cohorts are children on the autism spectrum and those with psychosocial disability. Much of the work centres on Activities of Daily Living — toileting, dressing, eating, brushing teeth — but the challenges go far deeper than the task itself.
“It’s not just about a child refusing to put on socks,” says Camila. “It’s about understanding that their brain might be processing the world in a completely different way. They could be feeling overwhelmed by sound, touch, or light in ways others don’t.”
Some children are highly sensitive and actively avoid certain sensations, while others seem more passive or withdrawn. For many families, this disconnect can be incredibly difficult, especially when their child’s reactions seem unpredictable, or make no sense through a neurotypical lens.
“It’s hard when your child’s brain works differently from yours,” Camila says. “Parents can feel helpless, frustrated, or even blamed when in reality, they just haven’t been given the tools to understand what’s really going on.”
Occupational Therapists help bridge that gap by observing how a child responds to their environment, identifying sensory patterns, and working with families to build practical strategies that reduce distress and increase confidence — both for the child and the parent.
“When we make small adjustments such as turning down the noise, using visual supports, changing how we approach a task, it can completely transform everyday life.”
When Parents See a Way Forward
Many of the children Camila works with have difficulty expressing themselves. Some are non-verbal, while others struggle to use or understand language in expected ways. This can lead to frustration for both the child and their caregivers, especially when cues are subtle or easily missed.
“A child might not say they want more of something, but they’ll show it by reaching, pausing, watching for your reaction,” says Camila. “We help families, carers and teachers learn to recognise those signals. That’s where connection starts to grow.”
The most rewarding moments, Camila says, are often the ones that look small from the outside but feel enormous to a parent.
“A shared laugh. A child holding their gaze for just a moment. Reaching for a parent to keep the game going. These are powerful wins.”
When parents are shown how to spot those cues, and how to respond in ways that build connection, the change is not just in the child. It is felt across the whole family.
“You can see the relief in parents’ faces when something clicks and they realise their child is connecting with them, just in a different way,” says Camila.
That sense of possibility of knowing that there is a way forward helps families stay engaged, even when progress is slow.
“It takes patience and curiosity. With the right support, those breakthroughs come. They are life changing. That’s why I love this job so much.”
Tips from an Occupational Therapist: Supporting Connection at Home
1. Meet your child where they are.
Join them in the stage or sensory experience they’re in, even if it feels younger than their age. That is where connection begins.
2. Observe more, do less.
Take time to watch what sparks your child’s interest — a sound, a movement, a facial expression. That’s your starting point for interaction.
3. Use big, joyful responses.
If your child responds positively to something, exaggerate your reaction. That can be their way of saying “do it again”, even if they can’t say the words.
4. Celebrate small wins.
Holding eye contact for a few seconds, reaching out to continue a game, helping with one part of dressing — these are milestones worth noticing and building on.
5. Stay curious.
If something isn’t working, try looking at it from your child’s perspective. What might feel overwhelming or uncomfortable to them? Shifting your lens can change everything.
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Issued by Lanham Media on behalf of LiveBig.
Media Contacts:
Greg Townley | [email protected] | 0414 195 908
Fleur Townley | [email protected] | 0405 278 758
About LiveBig
LiveBig is a specialist allied health and assessment services provider for people with disability, including those on the NDIS. LiveBig is a registered provider with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, simplifying the process of accessing support services at home, via telehealth, and in the community. LiveBig is part of the Arriba Group, which includes Rehab Management, AimBig Employment, and LiveBig.
For more information, visit www.livebig.com.au