Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists promote and enable effective participation in the occupations of everyday life.
These Activities of daily living include:
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Self-care activities such as showering, dressing, grooming and eating
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Household and community functioning: Home maintenance, driving, budgeting, shopping and community mobility
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Education: Activities which allow a person to participate effectively in a learning environment
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Leisure and play
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Social participation: Interacting positively with others in the community
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Work (paid and unpaid): Participating in employment and volunteer activities
Occupational therapists are also able to assess and recommend assistive technology and/or environmental modifications that will assist individuals to engage in the occupations of everyday life.
Occupational therapists also work with clients of all ages with any condition, disability or impairment that affects their ability to perform the everyday activities of life, such as getting dressed, eating, going to school, making friends and being part of club or group.
This includes:
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Neurological conditions (e.g. cerebral palsy)
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Acute medical, surgical and orthopedic conditions
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Physical disabilities (e.g. spina bifida)
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Developmental delay and disabilities
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Sensory and attention issues
Occupational therapists can:
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Help clients achieve their developmental milestones such as fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination to help with play, school or independent skills (e.g throwing a ball, getting dressed, holding a pen or utensil)
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Educate and involve parents, carers and others to facilitate the development and learning
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Help children with developmental delays learn everyday tasks (such as bathing, getting dressed, brushing their teeth, and feeding themselves)
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Help clients with behavioural issues maintain positive behaviours in all environments (e.g., instead of hitting others or acting out, using positive ways to deal with anger, such as writing about feelings or participating in a physical activity).