- Occupational Therapy helps children achieve important developmental milestones through progressive skill acquisition or environmental or task adaptation.
- The primary goal of occupational therapy is to help clients reach their functional potential and enable them to participate in tasks that they find meaningful.
Occupational Therapy Programs
Now Offering Natural Environment Occupational Therapy Services
Mary Dartez
Mary Dartez is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist in the Upstate of South Carolina. She graduated from Jacksonville University's Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, where she completed her doctoral capstone project on the benefits of pediatric outdoor OT. Mary has a passion for helping pediatric clients and their families experience improved quality of life through a holistic approach, including education, adaptation, and rehabilitation. Mary has experience treating sensory and motor deficits and deficits in executive functioning, emotional regulation, behavioral challenges, social skills, anxiety, trauma, visual-motor deficits, and integrating necessary skills for completing ALD and IADL activities.
Nature-Based & School-Based Services
Parent/Caregiver Training
- Outdoor Occupational Therapy is when OT sessions are conducted outside, preferably in a natural environment, offering many benefits. Practicing skills in a more familiar environment promotes skill acquisition and generalization.
- Outdoor OT enhances the use of play as an occupation through which children can learn valuable skills, including gross motor coordination and bilateral integration.
- The more natural the environment is, the more easily skills such as imaginary play and ideation can be addressed. Playing outdoors is often highly motivating for children and can enhance participation in therapeutic activities.
