Occupational Therapy (also known as OT) is an allied health profession that focuses on teaching people skills for everyday living. The practice of Occupational Therapy can greatly vary according to the setting and clientele.
Occupational Therapy can support people of all ages, from children to adults and the elderly who for whatever reason may be facing challenges carrying out their activities of daily living. These activities of daily life are commonly categorised under the following areas:
self-care
productivity (e.g. work, school)
leisure and play
rest and sleep
Barriers to participation in these areas of life may be due to physical or cognitive challenges, developmental delay, ageing, injuries or surgery, and social and emotional issues. In these activities or areas of occupation, Occupational Therapy can assist to address issues at school, home or work which may be impacting on one’s day to day function.
These barriers may cause as difficulty with:
daily routines
tasks within the home, such as cleaning, meal preparation
social skills
developmental milestones
fine motor and hand skills
engagement and learning in the classroom
managing feelings and behaviours
self-care activities such as dressing, showering
accessing the community and community participation
access and mobility
employment or returning to work or study
sleep
mental health
sensory processing
An OT can support a person to enhance their level of functioning and quality of living through teaching new skills, modifying a task or activity and/or making changes to one’s environment (home, school or workplace). An OT can also recommend adaptive aids and equipment, or environmental modifications that may support a person to live with more confidence and independence.
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