Purpose & Scope:
“Occupational therapy is defined as the therapeutic use of everyday life activities (occupations) with individuals or groups for the purpose of enhancing or enabling participation in roles, habits, and routines in home, school, workplace, community, and other settings. Occupational therapy practitioners use their knowledge of the transactional relationship among the person, his or her engagement in valuable occupations, and the context to design occupation-based intervention plans that facilitate change or growth in client factors (body functions, body structures, values, beliefs, and spirituality) and skills (motor, process, and social interaction) needed for successful participation. Occupational therapy practitioners are concerned with the end result of participation and thus enable engagement through adaptations and modifications to the environment or objects within the environment when needed. Occupational therapy services are provided for habilitation, rehabilitation, and promotion of health and wellness for clients with disability- and non–disability-related needs. These services include acquisition and preservation of occupational identity for those who have or are at risk for developing an illness, injury, disease, disorder, condition, impairment, disability, activity limitation, or participation restriction. (Adapted from AOTA, 2011; see Appendix A for additional definitions in a glossary)”
Reference: American Occupational Therapy Association
Occupational Therapy Practice Framework Domain and Process 3rd Edition
Education:
Bachelors in occupational therapy is required.
Masters in occupational Therapy is preferred.
Experience:
One year of experience in occupational therapy is preferred.
Certification/Licensure:
Licensed as an Occupational Therapist by the Virginia Department of Health Professions is required.
BLS certification required.