Facts about Occupational Therapy Occupational Therapists are health care professionals dedicated to assisting individuals with either a physical or mental disability to regain their independence. Occupational therapists are involved in treating all age groups: children, young adults and the elderly, Occupational Therapist studies include human development, biological, physical, behavioral, and social sciences with an emphasis on the effects of disabilities in one or more of these areas. An Occupational Therapist graduates with a bachelor's of science, masters or doctoral degree and a completion of supervised clinical internships within a hospital, clinic or private setting. I love to help people so Im thinking of being an Occupational Therapist when I graduate. I never even thought about (OT) untill my Dad had his accident @ work. He fell of a 12 to 15 ft. bld. He broke the left side of his body. He went to therapy for about 5 1/2 month's. At first he had a physical therapist, and an Occupational Therapist. Then he got better and went just to the Occupational Therapist. (Eddie) Ever since then I've watched what Eddie did to try to help my Dad, and he helped alot. I love helping others when they can't do some-thing. We stopped going to therapy a few days ago. I miss not going there. I don't think my Dad does. (Ha-Ha) We got to know every-one at therapy so when we left there was some tears from every-one. Yes, including me... I always tormented the people that worked there. Especially my Dad's (OT) Eddie. He is so funny.. I'll have to stop in for visits sometime and make there day. About 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.The occupational therapist enters the field with a bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree. The occupational therapy assistant generally earns an associate degree.Practitioners must complete supervised clinical internships in a variety of health care settings, and pass a national examination. Most states also regulate occupational therapy practice.Who Benefits From Occupational Therapy? A wide variety of people can benefit from occupational therapy, including those with: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...Case Studies: How Occupational Therapy Works 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.Occupational Therapists: Occupational therapists (OTs) help people improve their ability to perform tasks in their daily living and working environments. They work with individuals who have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling. They also help them to develop, recover, or maintain daily living and work skills. Occupational therapists help clients not only to improve their basic motor functions and reasoning abilities, but also to compensate for permanent loss of function. Their goal is to help clients have independent, productive, and satisfying lives.Occupational therapists assist clients in performing activities of all types, ranging from using a computer to caring for daily needs such as dressing, cooking, and eating. Physical exercises may be used to increase strength and dexterity, while other activities may be chosen to improve visual acuity and the ability to discern patterns. For example, a client with short-term memory loss might be encouraged to make lists to aid recall, and a person with coordination problems might be assigned exercises to improve hand-eye coordination. Occupational therapists also use computer programs to help clients improve decisionmaking, abstract-reasoning, problem-solving, and perceptual skills, as well as memory, sequencing, and coordinationall of which are important for independent living.Therapists instruct those with permanent disabilities, such as spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy, in the use of adaptive equipment, including wheelchairs, splints, and aids for eating and dressing. They also design or make special equipment needed at home or at work. Therapists develop computer-aided adaptive equipment and teach clients with severe limitations how to use that equipment in order to communicate better and control various aspects of their environment.Some occupational therapists treat individuals whose ability to function in a work environment has been impaired. These practitioners arrange employment, evaluate the work environment, plan work activities, and assess the clients progress. Therapists also may collaborate with the client and the employer to modify the work environment so that the work can be successfully completed.Occupational therapists may work exclusively with individuals in a particular age group or with particular disabilities. In schools, for example, they evaluate childrens abilities, recommend and provide therapy, modify classroom equipment, and help children participate as fully as possible in school programs and activities. Occupational therapy also is beneficial to the elderly population. Therapists help the elderly lead more productive, active, and independent lives through a variety of methods, including the use of adaptive equipment.  Occupational therapists in mental-health settings treat individuals who are mentally ill, mentally retarded, or emotionally disturbed. To treat these problems, therapists choose activities that help people learn to engage in and cope with daily life. Activities include time management skills, budgeting, shopping, homemaking, and the use of public transportation. Occupational therapists also may work with individuals who are dealing with alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, eating disorders, or stress-related disorders.Assessing and recording a clients activities and progress is an important part of an occupational therapists job. Accurate records are essential for evaluating clients, for billing, and for reporting to physicians and other healthcare providers.The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) is the key international representative for Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy around the world and the official international organisation for the promotion of Occupational Therapy. Founded in 1952, WFOT currently has 57 member associations.

Occupational Therapy Program Information

Introduction

The graduate entry level program in Occupational Therapy is a professional entry level program preparing students for licensure to practice as occupational therapists. The following information provides the specific requirements for applying to the ISU Occupational Therapy (OT) Program.

In light of the dramatic change in the health care system, a general lack of understanding and knowledge of occupational therapy, the OT Program at Idaho State Univesity has instituted a change allowing early admission into the Master's of Occupational Therapy. This program model will allow a student to complete both the the University's and the OT Program's prerequisites in the senior year and complete the OT Master's Program over the next two years.

The Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. AOTA's phone number is (301)652-AOTA. Graduates will be able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individuals will be Occupational Therapists, Registered (OTS). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination