Occupational Therapy Described at three levels
Level One: The 30 second Elevator Pitch
Occupational therapy is built on the idea that what we do shapes who we are and how we live. The activities we take part in such as working, caring for others, playing, or creating gives our lives meaning and help us stay healthy. Every single human being has the right and the need to engage in these meaningful activities, which are called “occupations.”
Occupational Therapy Practitioners help people participate fully in these activities, no matter their age, ability, or circumstance. Occupational Therapy Practitioners use everyday occupations both as the method of healing and as the goal. At its core, occupational therapy believes that health and well-being come from the power of purposeful engagement in life. Interventions can be provided at the indidual, group, local, national and global level.
Level 2: The Philosophical Base of Occupational Therapy
In 2017 The Commission of Education a team of Occupational Therapy Practitioners set out to create an exact and definative Philosophical Base for Occupational Therapy.
“Occupations are activities that bring meaning to the daily lives of individuals, families, and communities
and enable them to participate in society. All individuals have an innate need and right to engage in meaningful occupations throughout their lives. Participation in these occupations influences their development, health, and well-being across the lifespan. As such, participation in meaningful occupation is a determinant of health.
Occupations occur within diverse social, physical, cultural, personal, temporal, or virtual contexts. The
quality of occupational performance and the experience of each occupation are unique in each situation due to the dynamic relationship between factors intrinsic to the individual, the contexts in which the occupation occurs, and the characteristics of the activity.
The focus and outcome of occupational therapy are individuals’ engagement in meaningful occupations
that support their participation in life situations. Occupational therapy practitioners conceptualize occupations as both a means and an end to therapy. That is, there is therapeutic value in occupational engagement as a change agent, and engagement in occupations is also the ultimate goal of therapy.
Occupational therapy is based on the belief that occupations may be used for health promotion and wellness, remediation or restoration, health maintenance, disease and injury prevention, and compensation/adaptation. The use of occupation to promote individual, community, and population health is the core of occupational therapy practice, education, research, and advocacy.”
Philosophical Base of Occupational Therapy. Am J Occup Ther November/December 2017, Vol. 71(Supplement_2), 7112410045P1. doi: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2017.716S06
Level 3: Occupational Therapy Organizations
Here you can learn more about Occupational Therapy from promitate organizations:
The World Federation of Occupational Therapy
WFOT is the official international organisation representing the occupational therapy profession. They set the standard for occupational therapy education internationally and promote excellence in research and practice.
The American Occupational Therapy Association
AOTA represents more than 244,500 occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and occupational therapy students in the United States and beyond, to advance occupational therapy practice, education, and research.
The New York State Occupational Therapy Association
New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA) is the only professional organization in New York State for occupational therapy. Their mission is to promote the profession of occupational therapy and to represent all occupational therapy practitioners who work and live in New York State.
Dive Deeper
Occupational Therapist maintain a strong adherence to professionalism. Learn more about our base beleifs, philosophy, and practice framework here:
David Crandall OTR 