April is Occupational Therapy (OT) Month — Let's Celebrate!
What is OT Month?
OT Month began in 1980 to recognize the vitally important work of occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. Each April, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) celebrates OT Month and the more than 230,000 occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and students who work nationwide to create fuller lives for clients and their families.
Helping People Live Life to the Fullest
Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness or disability.
Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Occupational therapy services typically include:
- an individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals,
- customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals, and
- an outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan.
Occupational therapy practitioners have a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment and/or task to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team. It is an evidence-based practice deeply rooted in science. (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2021)
Get Social
Join the conversation on our social channels (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn) all month long by using #OTMonth and #PittOT.
Looking for additional ways to promote the profession? Check out www.aota.org/events/calendar/ot-month.