Happy Occupational Therapy Month! During April, let people know why you love being an Occupational Therapist. If you are looking for a way to start a conversation about OT, use one of these facts about our profession.

Enjoy!

Cheryl Hall, OT
Author and Illustrator, Occupational Therapy Toolkit

1. Occupational therapy techniques were used by Greek physicians for the treatment of mental illness as early as 100 B.C.
2. OT’s role in mental health and substance use treatment is expanding, moving OT back to the roots of the profession.
3. Occupational therapy was founded by 3 men and 3 women in 1917; equality three years before women could vote.
4. Name a workplace and OT is probably there: schools, hospitals, homes, skilled nursing facilities, prisons, substance abuse treatment facilities, doctor’s offices, rehab facilities, daycares, acute care, academia, and neo natal intensive care.
5. The Arts and Crafts Movement didn’t just impact housing, but also influenced occupational therapy use of creative activities for hospital patients.
6. Wounded soldiers returning from World War I and World War II relied heavily on occupational therapy pushing the profession to standardize training, instruction and certifications.
7. OTs didn’t begin working with children until the mid-20th century; today this is a major patient group.
8. All OT helps with activities meaningful to the patient, so a good OT goal is always functional and patient-centered.
9. The American Occupational Therapy Association celebrated their 100 year anniversary in 2017.
10. Occupational therapy is not physical therapy! Every OT has their own wonderful way of explaining the difference – just keep it up!