University of New England

The Field of Occupational Therapy

Our occupations are those tasks we do, everyday or once in a while, that give meaning to our lives. Occupations fall into several realms: everyday daily tasks, work or productive activity, play, and leisure.

Occupational therapists work with people of all age groups and all ability levels to help them to engage in those occupations that are important in their lives.

For example, an occupational therapist may work with:

• Newborns who need assistance in eating and responding to stimulation in the environment
• School age children to help them in being successful students in the classroom
• Adults who have sustained acquired brain injuries in assisting them to return to community life
• Older people after having had a stroke, who may need to relearn to take care of themselves and their home environment

In addition, besides teaching skills and remediating the abilities needed for daily life, an occupational therapist may also work on changing the environment to make it safer or more conducive to optimal occupational performance. For example, through a home safety assessment, an occupational therapist might recommend railings or non-skid surfaces.

Sometimes occupational therapists might procure or design special gadgets or equipment to help people take care of themselves or to do a variety of tasks.