‘O’ = October and Occupational Therapy

OCTOBER is International Occupational Therapy (OT) month, and what a great opportunity to learn more about this important and often misunderstood field of work.

OT is a client-centered health profession that aims to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life.

More specifically, occupational therapists base their work on the principle that there is a strong link between what we do and our health or well-being. By using meaningful activities (or “occupations”) in therapy, they restore and improve a client’s functioning in all areas of life.

This is a very broad profession and most OTs specialise in two or three areas of work. These could include fields such as mental health, physical illness, child development, learning difficulties and functional capacity.

FIVE INTERESTING OT FACTS:

• OT originated in the early 1900’s as a means to use participation in daily occupations to restore the function and health of persons with mental illness and soldiers who were injured during World War I.

• Contrary to popular belief, the majority of OTs do not work with children

• OTs are specialists in assistive devices and hand therapy

• OT was ranked number four Best Job in the U.S. for 2018

• Greytown has OTs in public and private practice: Greytown Hospital OT (033 413 9432) and Hayward OT (076 703 6897).