So You Want to Be an Occupational Therapist

What will I be doing all day?

An occupational therapist helps people with disabilities or injuries develop, recover, or improve the skills they need for daily living or working. Depending on the setting and population, this can involve helping clients with activities ranging from dressing, cooking and eating, to doing school work, improving handwriting, throwing a ball, using a computer, and much more. OTs focus on developing fine and gross-motor skills and planning, and can also help people struggling with self-regulation and sensory processing.

An OT’s responsibilities include:

– Assessing and evaluating a patient’s skills and needs

– Devising and carrying out a treatment plan with specific goals

– Educating parents and/or caregivers about how to accommodate and help the client achieve his goals