Occupational Therapy month is celebrated each April. It is a time to celebrate the great work that Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants do to better the lives of individuals. This years theme is “Occupational Therapy: Inspiring hope, changing lives”.
Occupational Therapy history
Occupational therapy started in 1917 with the development of “National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy” (NSPOT).
Eleanor Clarke Slagle was a true pioneer in Occupational Therapy. She had established the very first educational program for Occupational Therapy.
World War I was a major influence on the development of Occupational therapy. During the war, wounded soldiers in military hospitals needed to rehabilitate from their injuries to either return to the field or to return home. The nurses at these hospitals began to utilize exercise and functional movements to help these soldiers.
In 1917 at Clifton Springs, New York, the first meeting of the NSPOT occurred and helped to further develop and specify the occupation. It was later changed to the AOTA in 1921.
With the help of the AOTA, the profession continued to grow and develop into what we see today.
What is Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy can be seen in a multitude of settings. They can be found in hospitals, schools. Outpatient clinics, Skilled Nursing facilities, and even at home through home health services.
Occupational Therapists utilze strengthening, range of motion, and even adaptive equipment to help restore and improve functional aspects of life. Often times these are considered “Activities of Daily Living ” (ADLS).
These ADLS can include bathing, dressing, going to the bathroom, or even cooking. Occupational Therapists can utilize many different tools to assist with overcoming disabilities from illness or developmental disorders. They can use adaptive equipment such as wheelchairs, shower chairs, reachers, dressing sticks, and sock aids to name a few.
Some Occupational Therapists are even well versed in splint fabrication and can help with development of static or even dynamic splints to help with range of motion or strength issues.
How can I celebrate OT month?
There are lots of ways to celebrate. The first and easiest is to show thank you for any Occupational Therapists or COTAs you know. Leave a thank you note or some food goodies. If you don’t have easy access to a therapist, spread the word of how important Occupational Therapy is through social media and word of mouth. For those currently in Therapy work hard and say thank you. You would be surprised how much a simple thank you can truely make someone ‘s day. Happy OT month to the OTs and COTA s in my life. Thank you for making a difference.
