OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY APPROACHES TO OVERCOME PLAY ACTIVITY PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN WITH RETT SYNDROME

The goal of the research was to study the occupational therapy features of organizing play activities for children with Rett Syndrome. Qualitative research method was used for current research work and, a semi-structured interview was conducted with three occupational therapists working with children with Rett Syndrome (RS) who had three and more years working experience. Conducted semi-structured interview revealed and described the specifics of treatment approaches from their own professional perspective. As a result, it was studied what kind of play activities occupational therapists implement in their work with children with RS. The analysis of the research data was conducted based on the descriptive method. Results: The results of the study showed that occupational therapists widely use various play methods and activities in their work with children with autism spectrum disorders, aimed at developing the child's motor, cognitive, and social abilities. Play activities contributed to the development of children's independence, concentration, interaction with the environment and participation in everyday life activities. At the same time, some difficulties have also been recorded, related to the child's motor limitations, short-term attention span and low level of play initiative. The study highlighted the role of occupational therapy in the process of organizing play activities for children with RS and emphasized the need for targeted, individual interventions. The results of the study further could contribute to the effective organization of occupational therapy treatment and improve children’s quality of life.