To describe occupational therapy in the simplest way it would be defined as the assistance given to people for participating in their daily activities through therapeutic means. The expert personnel who endeavor to conduct occupational therapy are known as occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. They provide complete therapeutic assistance in performing things smoothly.

The main forte of occupational therapy is to help children with disabilities so that they can easily participate and be a part of the school and social situations. Occupational therapy also aids people in recovering and regaining skills after an accident or injury. Senior adults who frequently experience physical and cognitive changes due to old age are also provided with assistance from occupational therapists. To name a few significant occupational therapy services, the following names can be listed under it:

• Occupational therapy believes in conducting an individualized evaluation, wherein the person’s goals are determined along with their client/family and occupational therapists.

• Occupational therapy follows expertise in improving a person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the ascertained goals through customized intervention.

• In order to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan, occupational therapists believe and practice an outcomes evaluation.

Why Occupational Therapy?

Along with the healing measures of therapeutic resources, occupational therapy is probably one of the only profession that is profoundly noble in its approach and standards. The humble endeavor of helping people move on with their lives with daily activities (occupations)after a sudden, unfortunate pause is itself enough to say on the dignified role of being an occupational therapist. The motivation and regained hope of living life to its fullest at all ages with an additional boost to prevent vile occurrences of injury, illness, or disability is truly sublime as a profession.

Critically, somewhere occasional therapy also promotes good health and better living standards. The holistic perspective taken up by occupational therapy practitioners focuses on adjusting with current the environment. The most integral part of the therapy team is to bring back the person to his or her sufficient fitness scores.

Most importantly, occupational therapy is no vague or colloquial practice that has been existing through so many ages. It is a scientific evidence-based practice and has adequate logical reasoning for its existence.

A Brief History of Occupational Therapy

It is in c. 100 BCE where the earliest evidence of occupational therapy can be traced by the Greek physician Asclepiades who used it in treating patients with a mental illness. With the humane and therapeutic approaches of baths, massage, exercise, and music he used to conduct occupational therapy.

Much later around the 19^th century, Eleanor Clarke Slagle came to be one of the founding members of the National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy and known as “mother” of occupational therapy till date. It was she who proposed an occupational therapy model of treatment. Slagle opened the first occupational therapy training program in the year 1915. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) recognizes a member each year who significantly contributed to the development of the body of knowledge.

Areas of Occupational Therapy Practice

• Children and youth
• Health and wellness
• Mental health
• Productive aging
• Visual Impairment
• Adult Rehabilitation
• Travel occupational therapy
• Work and industry
• Occupational Justice
• Community-Based therapy
• Occupational Injustice

Thus, occupational therapy is one of the profound noble professions existing on this earth that helps in achieving people the goals they set for life, despite their lives taking wrong turns.