Occupational Therapy History

As occupational therapy services diversified, serving a variety of clients in many different settings and with societal influences, the field began to evolve. During the 1990s occupational therapists began to shift away from reductionist medical model toward a more holistic client-centered approach. Services focused on enhancing individuals’ quality of life across the lifespan meaning before, during, and after therapeutic intervention. The profession began to better acknowledge the value of client education, injury and illness prevention, health screening, and health maintenance (Cole & Tufano, 2008). The field created more preventative initiatives, and focused services on improving quality of life and optimizing the independence of

The occupational therapy profession shares many objectives across the communities, clients, and families they serve. Some of these aims include: “Developing the field of occupational therapy and enhance the professions capabilities to meet the needs of the entire population, providing evidence on the efficacy of occupational therapy. This includes working with organizations and local communities, incorporating education, research, and practices as a complete whole. In addition, developing a team of professionals that innovates and adapts to the developing health needs of the population” (AOTA, 2013). This includes advocacy efforts with policymakers to ensure continued funding to provide care to individuals (AOTA, 2013). Occupational therapy is a distinctive profession that helps

Occupational Therapist enables people to engage and participate in everyday activities trough occupation. The latter role is not only applicable for individuals but also groups or populations. Eventually, with the increase of the aging population, expensive health care services, occupational therapists will have to incorporate health promotion practices into their actual roles.To cope with this phenomenon and to better meet older adult’s needs, the occupational therapist 's role would benefit from being enlarged.Expanding their knowledge and their practices in promoting health will facilitate their work in other domains.This will help them to shift from an individual to a population approach. To achieve that transition, therapists should be more involved in decisions taken by politicians regarding health and to develop services and programs that promote well-being, health, and quality of life. Also, collaboration with other fields such as schools, workplaces, industries, deputies and organizations will help them spread strategies that promote awareness and enable the population to control and maintain an independent healthy lifestyle. Also, therapists understand that the environment can be a crucial factor on health population. Therefore ,they can put pressure on the government to make public places more accessible to disabled people such as providing the subway of a wheelchair ramp and adapt crosswalks to the blind by adding pedestrian signals that include speakers at

The concepts and principles in the Founding Vision of 1917 and the Centennial Vision of 2007 establish a connection between our past and present. Comparing the two Visions shows that many of our modern day values were first outlined by occupational therapy’s founders a century ago. The Founding Vision reads, “The particular objects for which the corporation is formed are as follows: The advancement of occupation as a therapeutic measure; for the study of the effect of occupation upon the human being; and for the scientific dispensation of this knowledge” (National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy [NSPOT], 1917). Where the Centennial Vision reads, “We envision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized, science-driven,

Most of these people lost hope and became anxious and depressed because there was not enough food. Occupational therapists were called upon to help WW1 Veterans adjust to civilian life. During WW2 women began working more in the health care field, the need for Occupational therapists were at an all time high. Since there was a higher survival rate, solders needed services which included Physical and mental rehabilitation. During the rehabilitation movement in the 1960's our injured veterans created a demand for experienced personnel to treat solders and get paid for their medical services . After which the role of certified Occupational therapy assistant was established to help with the demand of the Occupational

Occupational therapy is a profession that is currently growing faster than anyone would have expected. Because of the increase in demands for occupational therapy services, therapists are having larger caseloads, needing the help of more occupational therapists. Occupational therapy in the mental health setting is one environment that has grown in popularity over the last decade. Knowing the benefits of occupational therapy in this setting, and the expansion of clients needing occupational therapy services, more funding needs to be established in this setting.

My level 1 fieldwork II was assigned at Charleston Area Medical Center – Medication Rehabilitation Inpatient Services in Charleston, West Virginia. It was an Inpatient Rehabilitation which provides Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy services. My supervisor is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant for more than 3 years. My fieldwork started around 7:45am and ends at 4pm. My supervisor provides me with occupational profile of the patient, diagnosis and the treatment before interacting with the patients. They usually see 3 patients in a day for 90 mins therapy sessions.

Alcohol, pain relievers, marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and meth are all forms of substance abuse. Any type of substance abuse can eventually take over the mind and body of the person suffering for this condition. According to The American Occupational Therapy Association fact sheet on overcoming drug and alcohol abuse, “over time, daily occupations can be negatively affected by substance use, impacting relationships, work performance, and daily routines that support health and effective coping (AOTA).” Most people with a substance abuse disorder often end up in and out of jail because they do not know any other way. Therefore, occupational therapy is a great way to help someone who is recovering from substance abuse to adjust to living a drug

Occupational Therapist work on patients who have been through illnesses or are disabled and they help improve the skills patients use in their daily life. They observe, evaluate, demonstrate exercises, develop treatments, evaluate patient's homes, educate family members of what they have to do, reccomend special kinds of equipment, and record the patient's progress. Many occupational therapist use special equipment to help with some of the activities they do with the patients especially autistic children. This career is very helpful and useful to many people who have problems doing activities they do in their everyday life. Occupational therapist have a copious amount of requirements or qualifications, they have a very gratifying salary and

The expansion of occupational therapy (OT) is becoming international in areas where OT services were not previously provided. While western occupational therapists travel to other countries, it is important to understand cultural differences.

In order to prepare the University of Central Arkansas students, the university requires that each student take a UCA Core class. As a result, students learn about Diversity, Communication, Critical Inquiry, and Responsible living. Although these skills are learned inside the classroom, students are able to apply these skills into the world while attaining a job in a particular field, such as, Occupational Therapy.

Since day one, physical and occupational therapy have steadily progressed and evolved into crucial, prestigious careers. Physical therapy began around 460 BC. Hippocrates used hydrotherapy, which uses pools or water for exercises and relief of pain, and massage treatment. Many universities started programs for massage and physical therapy. The industry grew during WWI because the war produced many injured soldiers who were in need of therapy. In 1921, the American Women’s Physical Therapeutic Association, later the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), was founded by Mary McMillan, who became known as the “Mother of Physical Therapy.” The APTA official website describes the APTA as a professional membership organization that funds and releases research and fights legal battles for PTs (Who we are). Throughout the years, physical therapy has become a respectable career and has, and will, continue to grow as more research and

This article provided a historical review of OT’s role in preventive health and wellness. The article stated that occupational therapy's leaders have recognized the need to improve society through preventive health interventions. However, between the 1920s and 1960 OT’s were not active in promoting preventive health. It was not until the 1960s and 1970s that the leaders of the profession established an increased awareness of the need for OT’s to become more active in preventive health and wellness. This increased awareness caused AJOT to devote an entire issue to the topic of health promotion and wellness in 1986. Although, this article was helpful in understanding the historical role of OT’s in preventive health and wellness, a more recent

It is very significant that occupational therapist go outside of the professional literature to learn more about their clients in their everyday routine. In the readings, there are a few ways occupational therapist can make meaning in the context of everyday life. In the appraisal “the Genesis of Community”, focused on creating a sense of community from the means of a crisis. For instance, the article talked about the earthquake that caused buildings in Mexico City to crush, killing thousands of citizens. After this traumatic event, several people were working together to rescue the injured and care for the homeless. It did not matter if they were rich or poor or black or white; they all interconnected to help care for the survivors of the

The history of Physical Therapy and Occupational was first developed in 1912; President Mary McMillan, an executive committee of elected officers, led the association. Physical therapy is a healthcare profession primarily concerned with the remediation of impairments and the disabilities of people. PTs diagnose and treat individuals of all ages with injuries that limit movement and the ability to perform functional activities in their daily lives. Occupational Therapists (OTs) work with other members of the health care team on the assessment and treatment of conditions that affect an individual’s ability to perform daily tasks ranging from self-care to high-level job related activities. The