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Living life her way: Helen’s story
This World Cerebral Palsy Day, we’re celebrating Helen, a much-loved...
Miles
This World Occupational Therapy Day, we are celebrating the incredible work of our Occupational Therapists who help customers of all ages build confidence, independence, and joy through meaningful daily activities.
For Occupational Therapist, Bec Stafford, this year’s theme, “Occupational Therapy in Action,” couldn’t be more fitting, especially when she reflects on the progress of four-year-old Miles.
When Miles first began therapy earlier this year, he was shy and preferred to sit quietly beside his mum, engaging with simple toys on his own. Over time, with gentle encouragement, sensory play, and child-led sessions, Miles has blossomed into a confident little learner who now loves to explore, play, and create.
“Miles has come such a long way,” says Bec. “He is now engaging in collaborative play, using pretend play to explore his world, and even taking on more complex activities like threading beads, stacking blocks, and tracing shapes and numbers.”
The story continues...
Each session is carefully tailored to Miles’ interests which are music, sensory play, and cause-and-effect toys, to keep learning fun and engaging. “We make therapy exciting by following his lead,” Bec explains. “I give lots of positive reinforcement, big smiles, cheering, clapping and let him explore toys his own way before showing new ways to play.”
One of her proudest moments was seeing Miles sit and focus for more than 15 minutes, tracing and painting with full concentration and a smile on his face. “It showed just how much his attention, regulation, and confidence had grown,” she said.
For children like Miles, occupational therapy goes far beyond fine motor skills. It is about developing emotional regulation, supporting families to understand developmental milestones, and building skills that prepare children for school and everyday life.
How we helped
“Miles now transitions smoothly in and out of the therapy room, packs away his toys without help, and enjoys connecting with everyone when he visits,” says Bec. “He’s even beginning to recognise and name the other therapists, that sense of belonging is so special to see.”
Looking ahead, the next goals for Miles are to build on his pretend play, strengthen his co-regulation strategies at home, and continue expanding his cognitive and social play skills.
For Bec, Occupational Therapy in Action means listening to customers, understanding what is meaningful to them, and finding creative ways to help them reach their goals.
“Seeing those small wins turn into big changes is what makes this work so rewarding” she says.
A few words
“Occupational therapists help people of all ages to participate in the things that matter most to them, from self-care and learning to play and independence”
- Bec- Occupational Therapist
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