Category: Occupational Therapy

The main goal of an occupational therapist is to treat injured, disabled, or ill patients that have difficulties performing everyday activities. Through the use of therapeutic activities, OTs can help these patients improve and recover the skills they need to continue through daily life with ease. It is often thought that occupational therapists are only in hospitals or healthcare facilities, but occupational therapy in schools is just as important. Step into any early elementary classroom, and you will likely see children who would benefit from pediatric occupational therapy.

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Occupational therapy and physical therapy are often confused because both are methods of treating disease, injury or disability that do not involve medication. What do physical therapists do? They help improve patients' quality of life by prescribing certain exercises and providing hands-on care and patient education. For each patient, a physical therapist develops a treatment plan that helps them prevent injuries or manage their conditions, helping them to move better, reduce pain and restore function.  What do occupational therapists do? They help people improve their ability to accomplish daily activities through exercises, environmental changes, and customized interventions. With each patient, an occupational therapist provides an evaluation to determine goals, then develops an intervention plan to help the person improve their ability to perform daily activities and meet their goals. 

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Time with students during occupational therapy sessions is precious. Depending on the student, you may only see them once a week. This may be within an individual or group setting. Sometimes occupational therapy is pushed into the classroom to help with fine motor skills during classroom time. This means that it is important to build a strong relationship with families at home. There are ways to share occupational therapy activities and hand exercises which will strengthen fine motor movement.

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Overall, the employment outlook for occupational therapists is very positive. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is expected to grow by about 43% over the next eight years. Nursing homes, hospitals, and occupational therapy offices employ the majority of therapists. But some occupational therapists also work in schools. Working as a school-based OT can be an interesting and rewarding setting to pursue your career. If you want to work in a school setting, competition for jobs may be a bit tougher. Jobs as a school-based occupational therapist are often sought after. The good news is there are things you can do to increase your marketability and improve your chances of landing your dream job.

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In the past, occupational therapists have worked predominantly with young children to assist them with fine motor skills. They often spent a lot of time in sessions perfecting pincer grasp, writing letters, and other goals for early elementary-aged children. While occupational therapists may still do these with their students, their role has changed drastically in recent years.

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