Statement Of Purpose: Occupational Therapy

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

Ever since I was a child, people always asked me what I would like to be when I grew up. At first, I would always say that I wanted to become an engineer because of my love for hands-on learning and my exceptional problem-solving skills. However, when I grew older I found that similar spark of fascination in the medical field. I wanted to go into a profession where I could help others and use my love for problem solving and hands-on interest. This is when I became interested in occupational therapy and fell in love with the profession. Occupational therapy has several elements I find passion in such as, the ability to be hands on and help change other people’s lives in a positive manner. My goal in life is to become an occupational therapist and help others live independent lives again. As I work to obtain this goal, I am doing many things such as strengthening my writing skills because this major involves many various aspects of writing. To succeed in this field, one needs to be able to write strong research-based papers and cite all sources correctly. I am striving to master these skills in hopes that I can succeed in and accomplish my academic goals.

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

In practice, occupational therapists may use one or more frames of reference to help guide them as they plan out interventions and goals. Two examples of the frames of reference used are the cognitive behavioral frame of reference and the biomechanical/rehabilitative frame of reference. The cognitive behavioral frame of reference looks at how thoughts and behaviors affect the participation or performance of occupations (Cole & Tufano, 2008; Davis, Eshelman, & McKay, 2008; Giles, 2003). The biomechanical/rehabilitative frame of reference involves the establishment or restoration of functional skills; however, if full establishment or restoration is not possible, the modification of tasks or environments is also included (Cole & Tufano, 2008).

I am thankful for having the opportunity of applying to the Occupational Therapy program at Abilene Christian University (ACU). My decision of becoming an occupational therapist arose my sophomore year in North Lake College. Ever since, I have worked toward taking the prerequisites and then transferred to the University of Texas at Arlington, where I obtained by bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. So later, I could pursue obtaining my master’s in Occupational Therapy. I am applying to the occupational program at ACU because, it is a Christian school, its excellent degree plan, along with experienced faculty, and my eagerness about of becoming an occupational therapist would equip me with the tools I need to perform the occupation with quality and humanity. I am ready to commit and serve others by putting to use what I have learned from occupational therapy experiences and to take advantage of all the resources the program has to offer.

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,

Lives are changed everyday by occupational therapy assistants. I have the dedication, compassion, and ability to celebrate every miniscule improvement needed to become a successful OTA. This a quickly growing field where I can use the talents I already possess to excel. I can easily recall the differences made in my papaw’s life through occupational therapy and the way every advancement in mobility or independence was as exciting as it would be with a new

Through the almost 100 years of occupational therapy as a profession, occupational therapy have gone from a profession focused only on the mentally ill patient to a profession that is targeting a broad range of population ranging from the special needs population, to veterans, and people with different diseases and physical disabilities or injuries. It is inspirational to know that this profession started based on the ideology that “even the most challenged are entitled to consideration and human compassion” (O'Brien, 2012). Likewise, it is fascinating that occupational therapy played such an important role in both of the world war as reconstruction aides focusing on rehabbing the soldiers and helping veterans recover during post-war period

I had the pleasure of interviewing Ms. Irene Rademeyer, LPT of 1945 Barcelona Drive. Dunedin, Fl. 34698. In talking with Ms. Rademeyer, I learned that she obtained her Physical Therapist license 43 years ago in 1972 (I. Rademeyer, personal communication, June 22, 2015). Ms. Rademeyer developed an interest in this profession from the influence of her mother who was a nurse. Although she did not want to follow directly in her mother’s footsteps, she had a desire to help others in a medical capacity and the independence physical therapists have in managing the care of their patients appealed to her (Rademeyer, 2015). Ms. Rademeyer expressed that she had a desire to be able to change the lives of people by helping them to regain functionality and

At the age of 53, as a member of the growing older population, there has been many occupational changes throughout my life. An individual never realizes how a passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another change the body and mind. Every day is a battle mentally and physically to complete the tasks of the day. Exercise has been a powerful reliever of pain for the body and soul. People face many diverse challenges and changes across the span of a life and occupational therapy can take actions to improve a situation, especially with medical disorders.

Proset Autism is the organization with whom I did my placement. Proset is a new organization that offers adaptive tennis programs to children and adolescents with special needs. Their programs are designed to fit the needs of the various types of disabilities and limitations of these children and teenagers. I worked with children ages 7-9 for one hour twice a week at Hampstead elementary and Parkdale elementary; I worked with children with ASD and children with ADHD. The program consisted of routine and structured activities and tasks that allowed the children to increase their physical activity and reduce negative behaviours (inattentiveness, hyperactivity, lack of concentration, verbal outburst, temper tantrums, anxiety etc..). Each

“Broken crayons still color,” is my all-time favorite quote. Throughout everyone’s life, there has been situations where they have felt broken or second guessed whether they could keep going. Everyone deserves to overcome any limitation or barrier restraining them from reaching their fullest potential. Being an Occupational Therapist means being patient, open-minded, and optimistic. People tend to take things for granted as they get so wrapped up in their surroundings and in the people around then. We all should take a step back and imagine how different our lives would be if we couldn’t eat independently, get dressed without help, or even bathe alone. My grandmother, who raised my sisters and I, has endured multiple strokes. Before, she has

In accordance with Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF), “the efforts directed toward promoting occupational justice and empowering clients to seek and obtain resources to fully participate in their daily life occupations.” (Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, 3rd Ed., p. S41). I consider occupational therapy to be a compassionate career, practitioners try to grant their clients’ wants and needs to better suit the

Occupational therapy is a way of changing lives by means of improving skills used in daily activities and therefore increasing quality of life. Occupational therapy enhances everyday experiences for a diverse group of individuals ranging from infants to the elderly, including those with cognitive, developmental, mental, and physical disabilities. I am excited to pursue a career in occupational therapy because I realized at a young age that occupational therapists understood my younger sister with Down syndrome in the same way that I did. They saw her first as a person with many strengths and abilities that they worked to build upon. OTs acknowledged her ideas and how she enjoyed playing, which they used as a basis for creating meaningful therapeutic activities. I observed OTs adapt the environment within my home to fit the wants and needs of my sister while understanding and developing her as a whole person throughout each therapy session. OTs tremendously impacted my sister’s life by helping her with activities of daily living from infancy to young adulthood, such as learning to swallow, gripping a spoon, or figuring out modification strategies for getting dressed. For these reasons along with the foundation of a holistic approach to therapy, occupational therapists tend to be my favorite healthcare professionals involved in my sister’s care. My personal experience along with my education, research, and professional experiences have led and prepared me to study occupational

When I worked as an occupational therapist in Asan Medical Center, one client said to me. “Therapist Lee, I feel depressed when I think of myself after discharging from this hospital. I already know that my new life which I should face with would be totally different than before. But I don’t know how to participate in my newly-defined life. It is just like a walking the road without any light.” After I heard his story, it reminded me about my original desire which I wanted to commit myself. Moreover, this event make me come back to academic courses and pursue my goal as an occupational therapy(OT) researcher.