Fine Motor & Upper Limb Assessment – The Basics for OTs
Are you an Occupational Therapist wanting to build confidence in assessing fine motor and upper limb function?
Whether you’re working with children or adults, this foundational workshop explores how to assess hand function and upper limb use through a practical, client-centred lens.
Access workshop nowWhat will you learn?
Fine motor and upper limb assessment is a cornerstone of OT practice across age groups. But where do you start, and how do you make it meaningful?
This workshop unpacks the key elements to consider in assessment, introduces you to common tools and shows you how to apply clinical reasoning to identify barriers, guide intervention, and set functional goals.
We’ll explore:
- The role of the hand in both function and perception
- How to conduct a functional task analysis using the PEO model
- Components of fine motor performance: grasp, in-hand manipulation, bilateral coordination, reach, wrist control and more
- The importance of posture, core strength, sensory input and environmental setup
- How to assess fine motor skills through both observation and standardised tools
- Functional areas for assessment, from dressing and handwriting to feeding and grooming
- Shares some commonly used standardised assessments
- Goal setting for upper limb and fine motor outcomes (including SMART goals and GAS)
- How to align your assessments and recommendations with NDIS Reasonable & Necessary criteria
Who is this workshop for?
- OTs working with children, adolescents or adults needing assistance with functional hand use
- Early career clinicians building their upper limb assessment skills
- OTs delivering NDIS-funded therapy supports or writing functional capacity reports
- Allied health professionals seeking to link upper limb performance with participation
Why attend?
- Build foundational knowledge of upper limb and fine motor assessment in everyday practice
- Learn how to break down tasks holistically and identify where support is needed
- Understand the relevance of your assessments within the NDIS funding model
- Walk away with increased confidence to complete upper limb and fine motor assessments, gaining practical strategies and clinical tips for real-life application
About the Presenter
Hannah Spencer is an experienced Occupational Therapist with over 10 years of practice, underpinned by a strong foundation in Psychology.
Her diverse clinical background spans neurology, rehabilitation, orthopaedics, surgery, workplace injury and paediatrics.
Within the NDIS sector, Hannah has held roles ranging from senior management to clinical supervision, bringing both strategic insight and frontline expertise. She has also contributed to university teaching and is deeply passionate about clinical education, reflective practice and supporting therapists to discover and grow into their areas of interest.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
The workshop was highly informative and helpful. The image examples provided clear guidance on key areas to consider. I learned new insights, such as how white knuckles and gripping too hard may indicate hand strength issues. The discussion on integrating UL/FM assessments with NDIS-preferred functional assessments was particularly valuable.
Amazing workshop and very thorough. It provided a clear and practical introduction to fine motor assessment techniques, with a strong focus on functional application. Attending this workshop also enhances an OTs ability to justify funding requests!
