Interview Assignment- Relating to Autism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Interview Assignment- Relating to Autism - Essay Example Why physical therapy for autism, an apparently mental condition? The physical therapist I interviewed noted that the Cartesian mind-body dualism is the root of the misconception that physical illnesses need physical approaches to heal and mental illnesses need the same. Autism is defined as a pervasive developmental disorder: Development is delayed and impaired in many areas, including motor skills both gross and fine. Physical therapy helps autistics develop those skills and reduce the gap between them and the outside world in this fashion. Further, the physical therapist I interviewed found that above the strictly clinical benefits, physical therapy is really useful for autistics because it gets them out of the house, gives them something to do that helps them manage all the sensations and focus their perception, and makes them feel more normal. Training autistics with physical therapy can help them participate in normative social experiences like sports: This is especially importa nt for child autistics, who will find it easier to connect with their peer groups by skipping, playing jump rope or hopskotch, or playing in ball games. The occupational therapist I interviewed argued that occupational therapy was basically the mental flipside of the physical therapy.