OT is the art (because it is very individualized) and science of enabling engagment in everyday living, through occupation; of enabling people to perform the occupations that foster healsth and well-being; and of enabling a just and inclusive society (things that are done to advocate on their behalf in world of education, funding etc.) so that lal peopl emay participate to their potential in the dialy occupations of life.
Theory of Ocupational Therapy
OT is very client- centered: how the individual defines the activity is what is important
Hisotry of OT
Early 1900s: there was a shift toward understanding that it was important to be healthy and happy- started mostly in mental health (started in mental asylems with occupational aids) realized that when there were given jobs and were meaningfullly occupied they got better quicker
Dunton 1919: occupation is as necessary to life as food and drink; every human being should have both physical and mental occupations; all should have occupations which they engoy, or hobbies; sick minds, sick bodies and sick souls may be healthed thru occupation
- thus ocupation was defined as both the domain of concern and the theapeutic medium of occupational therapy
WWI: Diversional therapy: to divert attention away from injury and illness
The war lsted much longer – so many more disbled than had anticipated, found that diverting attention away from their physial problems really helped them
War-aids: the early Ots, helped adapt activities for soldiers to participate in society (worked