Marshall Said:

What do you guys think of occupational therapist assistant as a job for males?

We Answered:

I wasn't aware it was gender specific. I say go for it!

Tamara Said:

Are physical therapists doing the occupational therapists job now?

We Answered:

Legally, no...in fact, it might be aruged the other way around. OT originally started as a profession to help those with psychological disorders by helping them improve cognition and mental stability with activities and cognitive tasks.

PTs originally started helping people with physical impairments, although treatments originally consisted of things such as passive range of motion, whirlpool and massage.

Both professions have grown since then, but it's often been argued that OTs took away some of the work of PTs....especially in the case of hand therapy.

However, both of these statements from either side of the coin are highly debateable and controversial.

Jamie Said:

what is the job of an occupational therapist?

We Answered:

Occupational therapists are healthcare workers who work with people with disabilities, the elderly, newborns, school-aged children, and with anyone who has a permanent or temporary impairment in their physical or mental functioning. The aim of occupational therapy is to help the client to perform daily tasks in their living and working environments, and to assist them to develop the skills to live independent, satisfying, and productive lives.

Interventions used by occupational therapists to achieve greater independence by clients include rehabilitation of neuropsychological deficits (memory, attention, complex reasoning), motor function, sensory function (vision, perception of touch), interpersonal skills (e.g. social skills). The medium of treatment usually involves the use of purposeful activities, which have some meaning and relevance to clients' lifestyle (these are also called 'occupations' and include routine behaviors associated with work, leisure and self care.)

Another important area of intervention is by means of environmental manipulation to maximize ability (such as environments for wheelchair users) or afford the desired behaviors (e.g. set up the environment so that it contains cues to compensate for memory impairment).

Occupational therapists might work in a hospital, skilled nursing facility, school, outpatient clinic, or in the client's home as in home health. Some occupational therapists also conduct research to assess new techniques, rate the effectiveness of existing services and investigate other areas into which occupational therapy might be beneficial. Additionally, there are some non-traditional roles such as consulting with lawmakers and doing home accessibility modification and ergonomic assessments of work environments.

Lynn Said:

is it really hard to find a job as an occupational therapist?

We Answered:

Where I work we have trouble finding OTs and PTs. My friends runs a company providing Early intervention services said she would hire 6 if she could find them. She turns down work regularly. There is a waiting list to get services.