Occupational Therapy
Learn skills for everyday life, independence and confidence, no matter your level of vision loss.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy (OT) helps people develop, regain or maintain the skills they need to participate in everyday life with greater independence, confidence and safety.
Occupational Therapists work with people to overcome challenges that may affect their ability to complete meaningful daily activities. This can include personal care, caring for others, working, volunteering, learning and using assistive technology, managing at home, participating in hobbies, community activities and social events.
By focusing on what matters most to each individual, Occupational Therapy supports people to achieve their goals and live as independently as possible.
Download the digital booklet to learn more.
Building practical skills
What can OT support help you with?
Working with our Occupational Therapists, you’ll identify personal goals and learn practical skills to help achieve them.
Support may include:
- Personal Care: Showering, grooming, choosing outfits, getting dressed and managing medications.
- Household Tasks: Cooking, cleaning, making a cup of tea or coffee, doing laundry, gardening and other daily household activities.
- Community Participation: Using ATMs, signing documents, identifying and managing money, shopping and navigating everyday tasks in the community.
- Communication and Technology: Using phones and other devices, handwriting, presenting yourself confidently and learning to use assistive technology in daily life.
- Home Modifications and Equipment: Adapting your home environment and exploring tools, technology and gadgets that can support greater independence.
Accessing support
Who can benefit from OT services?
Regardless of your age, level of vision loss or previous experience with Occupational Therapy, our services can help you achieve your goals, whether they’re big, small or changing over time.
If you require additional support, Guide Dogs SA/NT offers a broad range of services designed to meet your individual needs. Our team can help connect you with the most appropriate supports.
Personalised to you
Support tailored to your needs.
We tailor our services to suit your needs, whether that’s a single consultation, a short-term program or ongoing support.
Everyday life looks different for everyone. If there’s a specific skill you’d like to develop or activity you’d like to participate in more confidently, we can create a personalised program to help you achieve it.
Depending on your circumstances and goals, support may take place:
- At home
- In hospital or healthcare settings
- Alongside family members and carers
- With your broader support team
- In the community
Funding options
What funding is available?
You may be eligible or already receiving funding from a range of sources including, but not limited to:
- NDIS
- My Aged Care
- Children and Students with Disability (Department for Education)
- Department of Veterans’ Affair
Support for some of our services is also available through agreements with other support agencies, or through Guide Dogs SA/NT’s charitable programs.
Get started.
Make an enquiry.
You don’t need to wait for a diagnosis to contact Guide Dogs SA/NT.
If vision loss is impacting your daily life, reach out to our Client Support Team, who will help you take the next steps in your journey. You can contact the team:
- By completing the Service Request Form.
- Phone: 1800 757 738
- Email: support@guidedogs.org.au
Service request form.
Referrals are welcomed from individuals, family members and health professionals.