Thomas Jefferson University

Department of Occupational Therapy

Carly, Kristina, Nicole

Dr. Susan Toth-Cohen

OT 101:WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?!

First things first…

•What does occupational therapy mean to you?

Occupational Therapy

•“helps people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations)” (AOTA 2014)

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•Who do you think we help?

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Areas of practice• Children & youth

• Health & wellness

• Mental health

• Productive aging

• Rehab & disability

• Work & industry

• *and in each of these areas, environmental modifications and adaptations are huge!

• Which brings us to…

Universal Design• “The design of products and environments to be usable by

all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design”

• Equitable

• Flexible

• Simple and intuitive

• Perceptible

• Tolerance for error

• Low physical effort

• Size and spacehttp://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRCGix_g5-vrXASXoBkKGOpBdDM9Xyqu-touZlIOcXFGHtp1xPXGg

For example…

• Handicapped ramp in the back of the building

vs.

• Accessibility to entrance for ALL

So, bringing it back to OT...Can you think of anywhere in your communities that either currently implements principles of Universal Design or that NEEDS TO?

ADA vs. UD

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Before moving on…

•Knowing what you know about OT already, what may be an OT’s role in promoting Universal Design in various environments?

Speaking of environments…

•Where do you think we work?

Where can you find us?• Schools

• Private outpatient pediatric clinics

• Home programs

• Hospitals & general rehab (in/outpatient)

• Nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities

• Community living facilities

• Psychiatric facilities

• In the workplace (consultations)

• Prisons

•So what exactly do we do?

What is our role?•Collaborate

•Educate

•Treat

•Advocate

•Research

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•What are your personal experiences with occupational therapy?

•What have you learned today?

• Questions/comments?

• Thank you!