Occupational Therapy
FOR UNDERGRADUATES IN HEALTH PROMOTION AND WELLNESS MANAGEMENT
Created by: Kelly Smith
What is Occupational Therapy?
 A form of therapy for those recuperating from either
a physical or mental illness by using rehabilitation
techniques to help them get back to their everyday
life activities
Occupational Therapy in the 1700’s?
 Occupational Therapy a new profession? NO
 It was created back in the 1700’s when the mentally ill were treated as prisoners rather
then members of society
 2 men sought out to change this, Phillipe Pinel and William Tuke
 It was called Moral Treatment and Occupation.
Moral Treatment and Occupation
 Patients were treated with kindness and
consideration
 They were given literature, music, exercise
and relaxing activities to relieve stress
 Helped improve the activities of daily life (now
called ADL’s)
OT 1840-1860
 Considered the “golden years” for Moral Treatment and Occupation in hospitals
 Arts and crafts were widely recognized and used as treatments for relaxation and stress
 This was a start to a new approach in occupational therapy
OT in the 1900’s
 After the civil war occupational therapy
seemed to disappear, until the 1900’s when a
nurse named Susan Tracey began to teach
other nurses the specialty which is known as an
occupational nurse.
 By 1917 The National Society for the Promotion
of Occupational Therapy was founded, now
know as the American Occupational Therapy
Association
 It was then that OT became a more organized
medicine and had more of a scientific
approach to this field of study
OT in the 1900’s continued
 Then the wars hit and OT took off into full force by
treating and rehabilitating injured soldiers
 It continued to grow, they were now treating not
only the mentally ill, but patients who severed their
spinal cords, people who have had strokes, or
terrible accidents.
 Also treating diseases like cerebral palsy, autism,
and down syndrome
OT Today
 Occupation is the main purpose of the profession
 Occupational therapist are every where and working in many different environments
 Working with a number of different types of patients
 It is ever evolving and growing depending on the social environment around us, and all
the new things to come
Duties of an Occupational Therapist
 Find out what matters to the patient and what they want to accomplish
 observe them in daily activities, observe their home life and work life based on the
patient’s health needs
 Demonstrate exercises based on patient’s needs
 Teach family how to accommodate for the patient
 Recommend special equipment, such as wheel chairs, braces and eating aids and
demonstrate how to use them.
 Assist in every day activities based on the patient’s disabilities and show them how to
accommodate activities that they may have a hard time completing.
Where can you find Occupational
Therapists?
 Hospitals
 Mental Health Centers
 Physicians offices
 Rehabilitation centers
 Schools and education centers
 The clients home
 In research labs
 Work environments
 Assisted Living Homes
What Type of Patients Do OT’s Treat?

Mentally Ill

Children with development disabilities or disease

Patients with injuries

Cerebral Palsy

Autism

Down Syndrome

Patients who have had strokes

Spinal cord injuries

Patients who are paralyzed

People with drug and alcohol addictions

Elderly patients

People of any age who need help with daily occupations
What a Typical Day For an OT Looks Like
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jLsL_IuA1k
 Most OT’s are on their feet for about 8-10 hours a day, this obviously varies depending on
where you chose to work
 They also lift and support patients throughout the day
 It is a very active and hands on profession
What Do You Need to Become an OT?
 Bachelor’s and Masters degree
 It is not yet required to have a doctorate degree to practice but could change in the near
future
 After graduating from an Accredited Program by the Accreditation Council of Occupational
Therapy Education, you must take and pass the National Board for Certification in
Occupational Therapy Exam
 Then you must complete supervised field work, that takes 24 weeks
 After that, you obtain your license
 You need to be compassionate and caring
 You need to have patience and perseverance
 You need to not give up on yourself and your patients
 Lastly, time and dedication
OT Master’s Degree Programs in the Area
 Temple University-Philadelphia, PA
 Philadelphia University (Weekend program)-Philadelphia,PA
 Jefferson University-Philadelphia, PA
 University of the Sciences-Philadelphia, PA
 Richard Stockton College of New Jersey-Galloway Twp., NJ
Salaries for Occupational Therapists
 The median salary for an OT as of 2013 is $76,940
 The highest paid OT’s are around $109,380
 75th percentile are $91,600
 25th percentile are $63,580
Occupational therapists who work for home health care
services are generally paid higher
American Occupational Therapy
Association
 Founded in 1917 (see earlier slide
)
 AOTA has 50,000 members including OT’s, OT assistants and OT students
 It educates the public and helps to advance the profession by providing resources
 It ensures the quality of occupational therapy and promotes the profession development
of its members.
Goals of AOTA
 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. (AOTA
Website http://www.aota.org/AboutAOTA.aspx#sthash.I0whjk2O.dpuf)
 Vision 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. (AOTA
Website http://www.aota.org/AboutAOTA.aspx#sthash.I0whjk2O.dpuf)
 Centennial Vision: We envision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely
recognized, science-driven, and evidence-based profession with a globally connected
and diverse workforce meeting society's occupational needs. (AOTA Website
http://www.aota.org/AboutAOTA.aspx#sthash.I0whjk2O.dpuf)
Benefits of AOTA
 Even as a student you can become a member of the AOTA for $75 dollars a year
 If you are interested in a career in Occupational Therapy becoming a member will only
help you out in the future.
 Look at the attached web address below to see all the memberships and benefits that
they offer:
http://www.aota.org/AboutAOTA/Membership/Types-and-Fees.aspx
And becomes everyone always asks…
 What is the difference between OT and PT?
 Upper extremities vs. Lower extremities
 OT’s work more on the upper body and help with the learning of everyday activities
 PT’s treat injuries based off of exercise prescription
“Physical therapy teaches people how to walk, and occupational therapy teaches them
how to dance.” (http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/occupational-therapist)
Why OT is so rewarding
 Below are a list of quotes from OT’s about why they love doing what they do, I encourage
you to check out the website as well! https://sites.google.com/a/rams.colostate.edu/preot-club/home/members-quotes
 "I love seeing the satisfaction and happiness on someone's face when they do something
they thought at one time they wouldn't do. I love being that person that helps someone
accomplish their goal.“
 "OT is helping people help themselves; helping them overcome the barriers preventing
them from living life to the fullest.“
 "OT to me is the beauty of watching a person achieve life all over again“
WORKS CITED
 Sensory Processing Disorder. “The History of Occupational Therapy…” http://www.sensory-processingdisorder.com/history-of-occupational-therapy.html. February 15, 2015
 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition,
Occupational Therapists,
on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm (visited February 15,
2015).
 U.S. New and World Repots: MONEY. Best Health Care Jobs: Occupational Therapy.
http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/occupational-therapist. February 15,2015
 The American Occupational Therapy Association, INC. http://www.aota.org/AboutAOTA.aspx. February 15,
2015
 The American Occupational Therapy Association, INC.
http://www.aota.org/AboutAOTA/Membership/Types-and-Fees.aspx. February 15,2015
 Colorado State University. Members Quotes. https://sites.google.com/a/rams.colostate.edu/pre-otclub/home/members-quotes. February 15, 2015