Occupational therapy for children with cerebral palsy

Goal-directed OT

For children with cerebral palsy, the strongest evidence supports goal-directed therapy — building skills around the specific, meaningful goals a child and family choose, practised in real contexts. Rather than generic exercises, OT works on what your child wants to be able to do: feed themselves, manage a zip, use a device, join a game. That focus is what drives functional gains and keeps therapy motivating.

The focus areas:

• Self-care and daily living — dressing, eating, grooming, adapted to ability
• Fine-motor and hand use — for play, tasks, and participation
• Participation — joining in at home, in play, and at school
• Adaptations — equipment and environmental tweaks that unlock independence

Parents and the wider team

OT goals are won in everyday routines, so parent-coaching is central — we help you weave practice into daily life. And because CP support is multidisciplinary, we coordinate with your child's physiotherapist and medical team so everyone works toward the same goals (physiotherapy itself is outside our online offering).

When CP support spans disciplines

Most children with cerebral palsy benefit from more than one therapy:

• CP + communication needs — OT alongside speech pathology, including AAC.
• CP + feeding — coordinated carefully, and only where safe, with the medical team leading on swallowing.

Hey Sprout's single intake coordinates OT and speech into one plan.

NDIS funding

Cerebral palsy is a recognised disability under the NDIS. OT is typically funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living, and younger children access support through the early childhood approach. For families without NDIS funding, sessions are private-pay at the NDIS rate.