OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AS A

MAJOR ACTIVITY OF HUMAN BEING

By
RAFIA KHALID
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that
helps individuals achieve independence in all
facets of their lives.
OR
Occupational therapy gives people the "skills for
the job of living" that are needed for independent
and satisfying lives.
Life roles
 worker
 student
 parent
 wife
 caregiver
 church member
 tennis player
Each role requires certain
skills.
 Our satisfaction greatly relies

on our ability to meet the role’s

expectations.
 Our satisfaction greatly relies

on our ability to meet the role’s

expectations.
 For example:

 skills of a caregiver for an infant

include diaper changing, food
preparation and feeding, holding,
just to name a few
 our ability to perform these skills

contributes greatly to our ability not

only to be successful in the role but
also to be satisfied with being a
caregiver
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.
Who benefits from occupational therapy services?
A wide variety of people can benefit
from occupational therapy,
including those with:
People Who Can Benefit from
Occupational Therapy
In what kind of settings are
occupational therapy services
delivered?
Qualifications and Credentials of
Occupational Therapy Practitioners
What do occupational therapists
do?
What kinds of activities are used in
occupational therapy?
What should consumers of
occupational therapy services
know?
People Who Can Benefit from Occupational
Therapy
 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
Qualifications and Credentials of
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.
 An occupational therapy assistant
(OTA) generally earns an associate
degree and works under the
supervision of an occupational
therapist.
 Practitioners must complete
supervised clinical internships in a
variety of healthcare settings and
pass a national examination. Most
states also regulate occupational
therapy practice.
What kinds of activities are used in
occupational therapy?
 Can be anything that facilitates
functional improvement and is
meaningful to the patient/client.
 Occupational therapist utilize
problem solving skills to match
meaningful activities to the person’s
needs and life roles to improve one’s
independence in functioning.
What should consumers of occupational therapy
services know?
 Occupational therapy practitioners
are interested in a person’s life roles
in order to tailor OT services to
meaningful activities to increase
one’s function.
 The consumer should offer detailed
information about daily
activities,interests and roles to
 Occupational therapy focuses on
promoting one’s independence, safety
and well being.
 The consumer should be made aware of
safety precautions and recommended
guidelines related to one’s disability,
illness or injury.
 Occupational therapists have a variety
of methods, including standardized
tests, to evaluate a person’s physical,
cognitive, and psychosocial skills.
 The consumer should be informed
of testing procedures or other
methods of gathering information.
 The consumer should follow
therapists instructions carefully so
as to ensure an accurate evaluation.
 Many states require occupational
therapy practitioners to be licensed
and follow established regulations.
 Occupational therapy adheres to a
Code of Ethics established by the
American Occupational Therapy
Association.