Occupational therapists play a critical role in promoting participation among students in activities that improve their health and well-being and the development of life skills and social interaction. This includes playing, learning, interacting with caregivers and peers, and integrating education instruction in and outside of school.
Responsibilities of Occupational Therapist Practitioners
Occupational therapy includes both occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs). While their responsibilities overlap, the primary difference between OTs and OTAs is an OTA cannot work independently, but rather under an OT's supervision.
According to CYC-Net and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), these OT practitioners cooperate with caregivers by:
- Addressing delays or challenges experienced in development
- Identifying and modifying or compensating for barriers that interfere with, restrict, or inhibit functional performance
- Teaching and modeling skills and strategies to children, their families, and other adults in their environments to extend therapeutic intervention to all aspects of daily life tasks
- Adapting activities, materials, and environmental conditions so children can participate under different conditions and in various settings (e.g., home, school, sports, community programs)
For infants, toddlers, and young children, occupational therapy interventions address milestones such as:
- Facilitating movement to sit, crawl, or walk independently
- Learning to pay attention and follow simple instructions; developing the ability to eat, drink, wash, and dress independently
- Learning to cope with disappointment or failure
- Reducing extraneous environmental stimuli, such as noise for a child who is easily distracted
- Building skills for sharing, taking turns and playing with peers
- Using toys and materials in both traditional and creative ways
- Participating in age-appropriate daily routines
For older children and teens, occupational therapy interventions include:
- Adapting or modifying curricula, the environment, or activities to support participation in educational routines and learning activities
- Navigating more complex social relationships, including dating
- Assessing the skills needed to learn to drive or assisting with alternative community mobility options
- Strengthening self-determination and decision making skills, and enhancing overall independence
- Helping with vocational planning and transitions, including employer supports
- Planning for transition to college, including time management, study habits and routines, and independent living skills
In education
OT practitioners provide support for successful learning, appropriate behavior, and participation in daily routines and activities. Services can be provided under:
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA)
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Part of a multi-tiered problem-solving process for general education students (e.g., Tier Interventions, early intervening services)
OT practitioners also assist students with the transition of school environments, from preschool to kindergarten, elementary to middle school, and high school to college and adult life.
Injury-related services
When a child experiences injury or illness, medically-based or rehabilitative occupational therapy services may be provided as developmentally appropriate, including:
- Physical skills to increase movement, strength, and coordination
- Adaptive skills or equipment to address deficits in cognitive and executive function, sensory processing, visual motor and perception, and the ability to form appropriate social and interpersonal relationships
The overall goal is to improve the child’s functional performance and independence, with outpatient services provided as needed to continue the rehabilitation progress.
Emotional-behavioral needs
OT practitioners also provide services for children with psychosocial and mental health conditions. This includes working closely with students to identify tools and techniques that help them cope with frustration, anger, and impulsivity, providing students a path for collaboration and successful interactions with family, students, and other members of the community.
As children grow older, skills for independent living become essential. OT practitioners work to address self-determination and self-advocacy skills, along with the transition into adult roles.
Education and training requirements
An individual who is interested in a career as an OT typically begins by earning a bachelor's degree in a relevant field like health science. A degree in an unrelated field requires the individual to take prerequisite courses prior to progressing to a graduate degree.
The OT career path also requires a graduate degree such as a Master or Doctor of Occupational Therapy, combined with fieldwork hours across 24 weeks in various locations, like school systems and rehabilitation centers. In order to practice OT, the candidate must pass a licensure exam through the National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), plus meet the individual's state licensing requirements.
For OTA's, an associate degree paired with successful completion of the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) program is required.
Learn more
To learn more about the role and career path of occupational therapists with children and adults, visit American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and OT Career Path.
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