Our one-on-one Occupational Therapy (OT) Consultations provide one-time focused, practical support for children with disabilities and their families who are working toward a specific functional goal. This one-time consultation is designed to empower children’s participation and independence in everyday activities that cannot be addressed through group classes.
Program Overview
Format: One-time, individualized meeting with an occupational therapist
Duration: 60 minutes, depending on the topic and needs
Cost: Free of charge
Age Range: Children ages 0–16
Dates: Mondays, October 5 – November 23, 2026
Method:
Virtual or in person, depending on parent preference.
(Please note: We recommend handwriting to be in person with your child present as well.)
Families may register for one consultation meeting and select their primary topic of interest. At this time, we are able to offer one meeting per family. However, if availability permits, families may have the opportunity to book a second meeting to discuss a secondary topic of interest.
Please note: Our OTs are committed to meeting your child where they are at and building on their unique strengths and abilities.
At times, certain areas may be more difficult to assess directly due to factors such as sensory needs, emotional regulation, developmental readiness, mood, or attention to tasks and instructions. When this happens, our OTs will focus on observing and supporting foundational skills that help set your child up for success.
For example:
- Sensory regulation
- Emotional regulation and behaviour support
- Fine and gross motor development
- Visual-motor skills
- General strategies to support engagement
If a full direct assessment is not possible during a session, the focus may shift to a more
parent-centered approach. In these cases, OTs will provide supportive, practical, and individualized strategies that can be used at home, tailored to your child’s needs and strengths where possible.
Additional Note: Please note that assessments conducted virtually may have limitations and may not fully capture a child's skills, behaviors, or needs due to factors such as the online environment, technology, and the inability to directly observe all aspects of performance. Recommendations and strategies provided by Occupational Therapists will be based on observations made during the virtual session, information obtained from caregivers, and parent/caregiver reports.
Register
Registration is open until September 4th.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Topics
Handwriting & Pre-Writing (in-person recommended; child presence required)
Our occupational therapists aim to meet your child where they are at and build on their strengths, while assessing pre-writing and/or handwriting skills to provide tailored recommendations that support their goals. Pre-writing refers to the foundational skills that prepare a child for writing—such as drawing basic lines and shapes while developing fine motor control, hand strength, and visual-motor integration—whereas handwriting is the ability to form letters, numbers, and words in a clear and organized way using those foundational skills. Supports may include a semi-structured interview with the caregiver, observation of handwriting and underlying motor skills, and discussion of strategies through parent education and referral suggestions where applicable. All recommendations will be provided in a written format and sent email following the consultation.
If virtual, caregiver will be emailed handouts to print ahead of time, and must be present to assist their child.
We support:
Pencil grasp and hand positioning
Fine motor and visual motor coordination
Fatigue when writing
Quality of written output
We do not support:
Academic tutoring in spelling or grammar
Medical management of gross motor needs, such as contractures or splinting
Long-term handwriting remediation programs
Medical support for visual or motor needs
Dressing (in-person or virtual)
Our occupational therapists will assess your child’s dressing skills and provide tailored recommendations to support your identified goals. The consultation may include a semi-structured interview with the caregiver, observation of dressing, assessment of motor skills, and education on strategies through parent education. If dressing skills cannot be directly assessed, or if your child has not yet begun attempting independent dressing but you are looking for where to begin, the session may focus more on parent discussion, with strategies that are more general in nature and referral suggestions where applicable.
We support:
Sensory sensitivities related to clothing
Gross motor & motor planning
Fine motor skills (buttons, zippers, snaps)
Avoidance behaviors related to dressing
Task sequencing and planning
We do not support:
Complex medical care routines (e.g., wound care)
Ongoing intervention related to dressing
Medical management of gross motor needs, such as contractures or splinting
Toileting (in-person or virtual)
Our occupational therapists will assess your toileting needs and provide recommendations to support your goals. The consultation may include a semi-structured interview with the caregiver, discussion and/or observation of toileting routines, assessment of relevant motor and sensory skills, and education on strategies through parent coaching. If toileting skills cannot be directly assessed, the session may focus more on parent discussion, with strategies that are more general or foundational in nature to support skill development and referral suggestions where applicable.
*If your child is younger in age (0-6), their attendance is optional.
We support:
Accidents and strategies for toilet training
Hand washing avoidance
Sensory supports relate to toileting
Training routines and step-by-step strategies
General strategies on posture and positioning
Avoidance behaviors related to toileting
We do not support:
Medical management of incontinence
Specialized interventions for complex gastrointestinal or urological conditions
Ongoing support for toileting management
Toileting transfer goals that would require specialized equipment (i.e., lift)
Sleep (virtual recommended; caregiver attendance only)
Please note that this service is recommended to be virtual. If you prefer an in-person consultation, please select this when booking.
Our occupational therapists will learn about your child’s sleep routines and your concerns in order to provide personalized recommendations to support healthy sleep habits. The consultation may include a semi-structured interview with the caregiver, discussion of bedtime routines, consideration of environmental and sensory factors, and education on strategies through parent coaching and referral suggestions where applicable.
Your child is not required to attend this topic.
We support:
Sensory sensitivities impacting sleep routines
Regulation strategies for bedtime
Fear or anxiety related to sleep
We do not support:
- Medical sleep needs or monitoring
- Wounds and pain management
- Repositioning during sleep
- Sleep apnea
- Medications and supplements
- Sleep equipment for medical/physical needs such as mattress and pillows
- Bed transfers or mobility
- Prescribing or managing sleep behaviour plans
Follow-Up and Attendance
Please note, we have limited timeslots. Please ensure you are on time and attend your appointment. We understand things come up that lead to cancellations, and will do our best to accommodate you, but a re-booking slot cannot be guaranteed.
Location
99 Duncan Mill Rd, North York, ON, M3B 1Z2
or
Virtual
Topic locations are suggested as follows:
Handwriting: In Person, with child present
Dressing: In Person or Virtual, with child present
Toileting: In Person or Virtual, child attendance optional
Sleep: Virtual, parent only
Although these are our general recommendations, we can offer both in-person and virtual options for all consultation topics. Please note, however, that some topics may have limitations when conducted virtually (i.e., handwriting).
If in person, Occupational Therapists will meet families in reception and guide them to the assessment space.
How to Register
This program is open to both existing Move Learn Grow clients and new families.
Visit our website and click the link to register
Complete the registration form: Families will fill out a simple intake form, including general information, goal information, and written consent.
Book your session: After registration, you’ll receive a booking link within 3-5 business days to select your preferred timeslot. Please note, we will only have sessions on Mondays during the Fall session.
Confirmation: Our program administrator will confirm your session and provide preparation details for your topic over email, including what to bring to support the assessment.
If you are unsure whether we can support your child’s needs, please email us before registering at
movelearngrow@marchofdimes.ca.
What to Expect
Parent Interview: to discuss goals, concerns, strategies trialed
Child Observation (if possible): to observe skills, play, behaviour, or task performance
Recommendations: customized strategies on a recommendation list, emailed to you after the session
Please note: This consultation represents a single-session observation in a novel environment. Performance may vary across settings and days depending on regulation, familiarity, and environmental supports. Ongoing therapy or reassessment at another facility may provide additional information regarding skill development. The results and recommendations of this consultation should therefore be interpreted as a snapshot of current functional participation in the topic, rather than a comprehensive evaluation of the topic.
For Your Information
We kindly ask for at least one parent or guardian to be present for the meeting.
Volunteers or students may be present to support and engage with children who are participating in the assessment.
We are unfortunately unable to provide childcare for siblings, and they will not be permitted to remain or play in the program space of offices during the consultation. Please arrange for supervision of a sibling.
Assessments mainly take place in private offices but also may take place in a shared space with a few other families. If you would prefer a private space, please let us know in advance and we will do our best to accommodate the request.
Families may be asked to bring certain items relevant to the assessment topic; details will be provided in the confirmation email.
Families will receive a personalized list of recommendations, thoughtfully prepared from the consultation, delivered directly to their email. This way, they’ll have clear, practical guidance to support next steps without needing a formal report.
While we may not be able to meet every need within this service, our OTs will work with you to provide helpful referral suggestions and resources to support your child.
Register
Registration is open until September 4th.
