In Honor of World Occupational Therapy Day, paediatric occupational therapist Kathryn LeMonda is here to share 10 facts about Occupational Therapy.
1. Occupational therapists (OTs) help patients to participate in every day occupations! What’s an occupation? “Occupations” include all meaningful activities a person desires and needs to participate in for daily life. For children this may include things like getting dressed, writing their name or playing with friends.
2. Occupational therapists are experts in activity analysis. We identify personal and environmental strengths and barriers to select the appropriate match of activity demands and skills to achieve optimal outcomes.
3. Work settings for OTs include schools, hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, and mental health facilities.
4. Occupational therapists are trained to work with a variety of diagnoses including traumatic brain injury, autism spectrum disorder, stroke, cerebral palsy, burns, fractures, spinal cord injury, orthopedic impairments, sensory processing disorders, developmental delays and more!
5. Occupational therapy was founded by three men and three women in 1917, three years before women were able to vote.
6. Occupational therapists first established a role in paediatrics in 1919 – and have been helping children for over 100 years!
7. Since 2007, occupational therapists must earn a master’s degrees to become licensed therapists. Advanced training and specialty practice areas include sensory integration, feeding, eating and swallowing, assistive technology, hippotherapy, aquatic therapy, hand therapy, seating and mobility, low vision and environmental modifications.
8. Occupational therapists treat the whole person, utilizing holistic approaches combined with scientific evidence and current research to provide comprehensive treatment.
9. US News and World Report listed occupational therapy as The 25 Best Jobs in 2019 and Glassdoor listed Occupational Therapy as number 4 in the 50 Best Jobs in America for 2019. We don’t disagree!
10. Paediatric occupational therapists get paid to play! Three things we can’t go a day without – bubbles, silly socks and non-stop singing!
BONUS! Did you know the motto of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is: “Living Life To Its Fullest® ”?! NAPA OT’s strive to help all patients conquer goals to experience life without limitations.
As a paediatric OT, Kathryn loves being a part of helping children learn and master something new. “It’s the most incredible joy!” Kathryn spends her free time with her favorite people and going to yoga. Outdoor runs, puppies, iced coffee, and a good brunch make her smile!
