Find the Occupational Therapy Resources You Need at OT Junction!What is occupational therapy and what does an occupational therapist do? These are two of the most frequently asked questions of OTs. People are often confused because the word "occupational" leads one to believe that occupational therapy refers to work therapy or rehab. In reality, "occupations" when related to OT refers to the activities of daily living (ADLs) a person performs to function in everyday life. Such activities may include basic skills such as feeding, grooming, toileting, bathing, and dressing or more complex activities such as work skills and home management. In addition, when referring to children, activities of daily living refer to the basic ADLs mentioned above as well as the ability to play and function in school. Occupational therapists help individuals with injury or disability to be successful with their daily functions. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), common OT interventions include helping children with disabilities participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Where do OTs work? Occupational Therapists work in a variety of healthcare and educational settings which may include: Acute Care Hospitals What is the difference between an occupational therapist and a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA)? An occupational therapist has either a Master's or Doctoral level degree and can perform patient evaluations, develop care plans, and provide treatment for patients. COTAs are licensed professionals who collaborate with and assist occupational therapists in carrying out an OT treatment plan for patients. COTAs most often have a 2 year's associate degree. What type of diagnoses do occupational therapist's work with? Some of the diagnoses that OTs work with include the following: ADHD About this website This website is currently under development and when finished will contain all types of information about OT jobs, programs, continuing education, free CEUs, networking tools and treatment ideas. I am an occupational therapist of 15 years and hope to provide patients, students and other therapists with fun, beneficial occupational therapy resources!
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