Have you ever thought about being an occupational therapist? In such a position you get to help people who have either sustained injuries, been born with a disability, or are unable to function in everyday life. Occupational therapists help their patients develop or relearn basic skills. Social workers, physical and speech therapists, psychiatrists and other professionals work along with them to assist the patients.
For instance, an occupational therapist might help a stroke victim to learn how to write again, work on memory exercises, brush teeth or button a sweater. Such therapy begins while the person is still in the hospital and continues on for a couple weeks or months, depending on the person's needs.
Did You Know...
1. Robotics and other new technologies are making their way into the profession.
Engineers are working with them to create machines that can help stroke victims, those with multiple sclerosis and people with autism. These technologies are still new in the field.
2. Men are a minority in this field.
Men can be very useful in this type of work because men who are patients frequently prefer other men to help them in more personal tasks, such as bathroom tasks. Being a minority in the field, it is typically easier for men to get work as an occupational therapist than women. They also generally earn higher pay than women in these positions.
3. The need for occupational therapists is growing rapidly.
As the baby boomer generation gets older, more people will need help coping with disabilities and disease. Additionally, advances in science make it possible for people to live through more traumatic injuries and illnesses. They need help doing their daily activities.
4. Occupational therapists need a master's degree and a license to practice.
To stay licensed, they have to take continuing education courses. Employers want applicants who have graduated from accredited colleges and universities. Certification is optional but encouraged.
5. Occupational therapy ensures treatment for all.
Phillipe Pinel, a French philosopher, and William Tuke, an English Quaker, started calling attention to the need for humane treatment of the mentally ill in the late 1700s. They felt that people who were mentally ill were not a danger to society. Pinel and Tuke worked to help mentally ill patients to find emotional peace and encouraged those in mental institutions to take up positive activities to improve their quality of life. In time, going for walks, knitting and making toys were popular activities.
6. Occupational therapy was born during WWI.
Occupational Therapy was officially organized as a profession in 1917 to help returning World War I soldiers to work through emotional, mental and physical injuries. At that time, the practice became more scientific and the medical field recognized it as a medical profession.
7. Occupational therapy helps all kinds of people and problems
Occupational therapists help with those who have hearing loss, blindness, a loss of motor skills, trouble coping with stress, autism, stroke, heart attack, brain or spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer's disease, drug and alcohol abuse and other needs. The word "occupational" tends to make people think of helping people with their careers, but really their duties focus more on helping individuals learn, or relearn, skills that can help them be self sufficient.
The field of occupational therapy continues to change as new technologies and ways of thinking evolve. However, the need for occupational therapists will always be there. As these advances occur, patients will get more assistance with their needs and become more successful in coping with everyday events and in the recovery process.
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