What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy practitioners work with children, youth, adults and their families to promote active participation in activities or occupations that are meaningful to them.
Occupation refers to activities that support the health, well-being, and development of an individual (AOTA, 2008). For children and youth, occupations are activities that enable them to learn and develop life skills (e.g., school activities), be creative and/or derive enjoyment (e.g., play), and thrive (e.g., self-care and care for others) as both a means and an end to
achieve meaningful quality of life.
Recommended interventions are based on a thorough understanding of typical development and the impact of disability, illness, and impairment on the individual child’s development, play, learning, and overall occupational performance. Occupational therapy practitioners provide services by collaborating with other professionals to identify and meet needs of children experiencing delays or challenges in development.
Occupational therapy practitioners work with adults to address self-care, health and prevention, pain and stress management, physical rehabilitation, and mental health needs through individualized treatment programs to improve quality of life.
“Occupational therapy is a journey of healing and transformation enabling a person to live a meaningful life while striving to reach his or her own potential.”
Modified from AOTA
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