Nine-year-old Ana Leigh Thames' leaps and bounds in development since age five are largely attributable to the occupational therapy in which she has been involved, according to the Odessa American.
The West Texas girl's mother noticed odd behavior when the child was a 4-year-old, such as reticence and pulling back from physical contact. Her mother Amanda Thames enrolled her in program with an occupational therapist and has been impressed.
"She's transformed," her mother told the news source, noting her daughter was suffering from autism.
Ana Leigh went without working with people who hold occupational therapy jobs for about two years but then her mom noted she was demonstrating a tendency to backtrack. So she enrolled her daughter in occupational therapy once again, which is perfectly fine by Ana Leigh.
"It's colorful and kind of pretty in here," the 9-year-old told the publication.
Occupational therapists are projected to enjoy an industry that is growing more rapidly than average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. All 50 U.S. states regulate the industry yet each state has its own requirements.