Occupational therapy services focus on developing a child or adult's ability to perform activities of daily life, such as bathing, dressing and feeding, by enhancing or restoring function due to intellectual disabilities, autism, injury, disability, or aging. Easterseals’ licensed occupational therapists incorporate tailored methods and adaptive devices to improve everyday activities. Sometimes people refer to occupational therapy as “OT.”
Services may be provided in an Easterseals outpatient clinic, child development center, or adult day care, as well as at home, at school, and in a variety of other care settings. State and federal laws determine referral requirements and funding opportunities.
Benefits of Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists work with people of all ages to learn skills that help them to lead full lives.
- Improved independence: Self-care activities such as dressing, bathing, cooking, and work skills; vocational pursuits that reflect their interests; and driver training
- Enhanced development: age-appropriate play and learning skills; fine-motor dexterity and coordination; behavior and social skills; and sensory and perceptual processing
- Specialized support: Development of specialized seating and positioning; workplace accommodations and assistive technology and devices; and low-vision rehabilitation
An Occupational Therapist’s Education
An occupational therapist who provides treatment is a professionally trained specialist and graduate of a college program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. Extensive supervised fieldwork provides occupational therapy students opportunities for both observation and broad clinical experience.
Some occupational therapists hold master's and doctoral degrees and work as teachers, administrators, researchers or consultants. Some specialize in a specific area, such as autism, mental health, pediatrics, or aging.
- Occupational therapists who pass a national exam given by the National Board Certification on Occupational Therapy qualify to use the initials "OTR" after their name, and they can sometimes indicate that they are licensed in their state. For example, “OTRIL” means they are licensed in Illinois.
- Certified occupational therapy assistants sometimes are employed to provide certain aspects of treatment included in occupational therapy programs. They use the initials "COTA" after their name.
- Occupational therapy aides also may be employed to assist occupational therapists and are trained on the job.
Individualized Treatment Plans
To plan a client's program, an occupational therapist evaluates a person's needs, abilities and interests using interviews, assessments and medical records. Treatment may cover one or more areas, ranging from muscle strengthening and self-care to social-emotional adjustment and use of adaptive equipment and splints.
As an example, the first focus in therapy for a person with a disability may be about performing daily activities, like dressing, grooming, bathing and eating. Then an emphasis may be placed on family and home responsibilities, participating in education or seeking and maintaining employment.
Therapy goals can change as treatment progresses and programs are reevaluated. An occupational therapist consults and works very closely with a team that often includes a physician, other health care practitioners, the client and the client's family to set treatment objectives that are realistic and consistent with the client's needs.
