Occupational Therapy Information

The following was taken directly from the American Occupational Therapy Association's (AOTA's) Web Site :http://www.aota.org/featured/area6/index.asp . In no way am I taking credit for writing this information. I am only sharing some text that you can view at the link above. Visit that link for additional (loads more) information about Occupational Therapy.


What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all facets of their lives. It gives people the "skills for the job of living" necessary for independent and satisfying lives. Services typically include:

**Customized treatment programs to improve one's ability to perform daily activities
**Comprehensive home and job site evaluations with adaptation recommendations
**Performance skills assessments and treatment
**Adaptive equipment recommendations and usage training
**Guidance to family members and caregivers

About Occupational Therapy Practitioners

Occupational therapy practitioners are skilled professionals whose education includes the study of human growth and development with specific emphasis on the social, emotional, and physiological effects of illness and injury.
The occupational therapist enters the field with a bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree. The occupational therapy assistant generally earns an associate degree.
Practitioners must complete supervised clinical internships in a variety of health care settings, and pass a national examination. Most states also regulate occupational therapy practice.

Who Benefits From Occupational Therapy?

A wide variety of people can benefit from occupational therapy, including those with
work-related injuries including lower back problems or repetitive stress injuries
limitations following a stroke or heart attack arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or other serious chronic conditions, birth injuries, learning problems, or developmental disabilities
mental health or behavioral problems including Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress problems with substance use or eating disorders , burns, spinal cord injuries, or amputations , broken bones or other injuries from falls, sports injuries or accidents
vision or cognitive problems that threaten their ability to drive .

Case Studies: How Occupational Therapy Works:

Every day, children and adults have or develop health conditions that significantly affect their ability to manage their daily lives. With the help of occupational therapy, many of these individuals can achieve or regain a higher level of independence. When skill and strength cannot be developed or improved, occupational therapy offers creative solutions and alternatives for carrying out daily activities.
Alzheimer's Disease

Art Anderson's family was not surprised when the doctor confirmed that his growing memory problems were caused by Alzheimer's disease. The primary concern was the effect that Art's care was having on his wife, who was dealing with health problems of her own. They found help in a day care program for people with Alzheimer's disease. Here Art enjoys social interactions, meals, and leisure activities designed for people with his condition. Art's wife Martha attends weekly group meetings led by an occupational therapist. Martha learns to help her husband to participate as much as possible in the family's routine and how to manage the many tasks that make up her "job of living."

Stroke


Helen Richards is a publishing executive, respected for her business skills and admired for her perfect grooming. Three months ago Helen had a stroke. During her recovery she had to relearn many things, but her first goal was to face the world with her hair and make up in place. Helen's occupational therapist understood. Together they found the right combination of tools and techniques so that Helen could handle her personal grooming. They also worked on the other tasks she would need to manage her home and return to work. From make up to management, occupational therapy helped Helen recover the skills she needed.

Developmental Problems

Tommy weighed just three pounds at birth. Doctors warned his parents to be on the lookout for problems that might affect his development. In the hospital nursery, an occupational therapist helped ensure that Tommy was taking in enough nourishment. As a toddler, Tommy attended a Head Start program where occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants provided activities to aid his physical and mental development. For youngsters like Tommy, the "job of living" requires basic skills such as eating, playing, and interacting successfully with family members and friends.

Additional Case Studies

The Recovery of Matthew - A child with traumatic brain injury succeeds with the help of occupational therapy.
Never Say Never - After years of immobility, a stroke survivor learns to take part in life once more.

Tips for Living
AOTA's Tip Sheets for Consumers offer information to help you cope with a variety of health conditions in children and adults and explain how occupational therapy can help. The Tip Sheets can be downloaded and printed free of charge. Go to Tip Sheets.

Fact Sheets
AOTA's Fact Sheets offer the professional and consumer an overview of occupational therapy's role in a specific domain or practice environment. These are all PDF files.

OT in Dysphagia Care*
OT in Education Settings*
OT in Falls Prevention*
OT in the Home Health Agency*
OT in Older Driver Rehab*
OT in Preschool*
OT for Children: Birth to 3 Years of Age*
OT for Individuals With Visual Impairment*

Consumer Organizations
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities is a coalition of about 100 national disability organizations working together to advocate for national public policy that ensures the self-determination, independence, empowerment, and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society.

National AMBUCS, Inc. AMBUCS (formerly known as the American Business Clubs) is a national service organization composed of a diverse group of men and women dedicated to creating independence and opportunities for people with disabilities. They do this by performing community service, by providing AmTrykes, the therapeutic tricycle, to children with disabilities, and by providing scholarships for therapists through our AMBUCS Scholars program.

VSA arts VSA arts is an International organization that creates learning opportunities through the arts for people with disabilities. The organization offers arts based programs in creative writing, dance, drama, music and the visual arts implemented primarily through our affiliate network in 41 states and the District of Columbia and 86 international affiliates in 83 countries. VSA arts' programs now serve 4.3 million Americans and 1.3 million people in other parts of the world.

Other Consumer Organizations Click here for a list of organizations that support people with disabilities and their families.


Finding an Occupational Therapist
Please contact a State Occupational Therapy Association for assistance in locating an occupational therapist near you. Each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico has an occupational therapy association. You can find the contact information for your state association by using the drop down menu locating at the bottom of AOTA's home page at www.aota.org

To find OTs specializing in Driver Rehabilitation search our driver rehabilitation database.

Mission Statement
The American Occupational Therapy Association advances the quality, availability, use, and support of occupational therapy through standard-setting, advocacy, education, and research on behalf of its members and the public.

Vision Statement
The contributions of occupational therapy to health, wellness, productivity, and the quality of life are widely used, understood, and valued by society.Back to Top
Last Update: 5/6/05