Toggle menu

Disabled Facilities Grants for Children Information Sheet

The role of the Occupational Therapist

The role of the Occupational Therapist (OT) is to carry out an assessment of your child based on functional need, taking into consideration the disabled child's medical condition in order to identify the needs and possible solutions. If, as a result of this assessment, adaptations are needed to your home then one option might be a DFG. Another option may be to give advice regarding a move to a more suitable property, which is either already adapted or more suitable to be adapted.

If the OT feels that the works are both necessary and appropriate, they can support you in making an application.

They will provide advice about the adaptations that are required and comment on proposed plans. They will also attend any case conferences and panels to explain how your child's needs will be met by the proposals.

The OT is not responsible for the grant and does not have the skills or specific knowledge to mediate on technical points about the structure or build process.

Working with your Occupational Therapist

You can expect to be working with your OT for the next few years as your child develops and their long term needs become clearer. At this stage you may not know how your child will develop and whether any special considerations may need to be taken into account in relation to their housing needs. With the help and advice of your child's OT (who is experienced in such matters), you may wish to start thinking about the options for your home in the future to meet your child's needs.

It may be that your current home is not going to be suitable for your child's long term needs even with adaptation. This is something you need to think about as it may need to be considered before the situation becomes critical. Your child's OT will be able to discuss this with you in relation to your child's current and future predicted needs.

Your child's OT will be happy to discuss with you all the options that might be possible in your home, both now and in the future. They can also advise you on what you need to look for if you decide to move to a more suitable property.

Share this page

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share by email