Day at Work: Occupational Therapist

In our latest Day in the Life, Lani shares how positivity, creativity and play can help children in therapy.
For more information about Occupational Therapy as a career, please see: www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occ...
"Occupational therapists treat injured, ill, or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help these patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working." ---Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
For more information on the difference between Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, please see: • Occupational vs Physic...
Track: "Itz a Hauntin’ (no vocals)" by Former Selves
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[@cody4077]

I've been struggling finding an outlet or job that suites my personality; so far OT and PT are the only careers I find suitable and would be fun to work in. Have a big decision ahead of me!

[@mariadh3370]

I think I found my job

[@logrady98]

same!

[@elskadee4003]

I'm hoping to be an occupational therapist too !!

[@inmysoul_TLH]

Im also interested. Well see what happens. Good luck to you.

[@badbyel4004]

Me 5 ! see you back here in less than 2 years ! :D future OT's

[@mgvegan7262]

aye we all have something in common ❤❤

[@logrady98]

Looks like an awesome job. Gonna do this. Was thinking about physical therapy but this seems alot better.

[@emmanueln4136]

I'm starting my second year of OT school next month. I love our profession!

[@moelserafy5598]

That's awesome! I'm going into my senior year of high school and I've decided to approach occupational therapy! It would be great to talk to someone who's had the school part of the experience. Do you mind telling me what it's all about?

[@elskadee4003]

+Mohaned Elserafy same here! Apparently I'm taking a gamble because I'll either love it or not so I really hope I do! :)

[@abc92800]

how hard/easy was it to get into OT school?

[@Jswmx260]

I have just found out that I've been accepted to an OT program starting this June! To answer your question, I must say it has become a very competitive field. Some of the top programs have 500-700+ people applying for 30-50ish spots if that helps put things into perspective. If you decide to pursue, I would say definitely start working on finding shadowing hours, I also spent some time working as a CNA and just landed a job in Behavioral Therapy right before being notified of my acceptance. Shadowing a practicing professional though was probably the best way to solidify that it was a job for me. The OTs are an excellent source to ask your questions as well! :)

[@mommy8406]

Emmanuel N you're lucky enjoy it I tried but science was really hard for me

[@ayoubeyadat2791]

This warms my heart

[@sarahkwee2026]

It appears that the video has the same narrator throughout. However, although she introduces herself as an occupational therapist, at 2:16 she says "I am a pediatric physical therapist." This seems misleading and I think it contributes to confusion about the differentiation between the two fields. I am glad to see more videos about OT but I think that it is crucial for us to not be lumped in with PTs who currently have much more public visibility. If we want our services to be understood by patients and medical professionals, we need to be clear about our unique role.

[@ConnectEdNational]

Thanks for the comment, Sarah Kwee. It seems like the subject of our video might have intended to convey that she uses physical therapy techniques/fundamentals with her pediatric clients for whom she is their OT. If you think it helps we can add this link to the info section of the video: physicaltherapyweb.com/differences-occupational-therapy-physical-therapy/ Let us know what you think about that. Thanks again.

[@ConnectEdNational]

Actually, what do you think about sharing more of your thoughts about the difference?! I'd love to interview you and post a blog on our site for students-- www.connectedstudios.org Let me know if you are interested by emailing media [at] connected studios [dot] org

[@sarahkwee2026]

Thanks for the thoughtful responses. I sent you an email in response - I'd be happy to do an interview, although I am a student not a licensed practitioner - yet!

[@buggyworldwidetv4550]

cool

[@pinkorangesoda]

I would love to do this!

[@ConnectEdNational]

For more information about Occupational Therapists, please see: www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm "Occupational therapists treat injured, ill, or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help these patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working." ---Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor

[@elizabethsoria1081]

Great video!

[@Rabiha1008]

can a special ed teacher make a career change to ot? if someone has an undergrad in education and Psychology? or does it have to be a science undergrad?

[@mommy8406]

I wanted to do this but I'm bad in science

[@Nausworld]

You have really nice SI room😊

[@pookieperez1381]

what degree do you need to be an occupational Therapist? or How many years in college? does anyone know

[@iseekknowledge8293]

I wish I could do this, but I'm an adrenaline junkie with a death wish. I need constant extreme stimulation to feel alive. When I'm working out, I have to push my heart to the verge of failure to get the rush. Otherwise, I'd love to help people but I'd fall asleep doing it.

[@Chris-ts8ih]

Looks amazing. I wonder what it's like to be a male OT.

[@thejubieexperience]

Caravan of Hope I'm wondering that too because it seems female dominated

[@thejubieexperience]

not judging. Just wondering if I'll fit in. think I'll go for it anyways

[@sonjab5292]

This is what I want to do but can someone please tell me, is this job mostly working with children? I do not want to work with children as I currently have for the past few years and definitely sick of it. Can someone please tell me? thanks in advance.

[@ANjellK21]

Sonja B occupational therapist works with many types of people. The woman in the video just happens to work with children because she is a pediatric occupational therapist.

[@sonjab5292]

thank you! do you know in what other settings OT's can work in?

[@kjv3192]

Sonja B you do not have to work with only children, however the profession is vastly different in an adult setting.

[@ZZ-uo7ht]

Sonja B no you can work with elder people

[@kristinatabasco4492]

I'm just as confused as Sarah. While it is true OT and PT's objectives are similar, it is not okay to treat the professions as if they are one in the same. I don't think you should add a link to address this misinformation. I think you should edit the video or remove it.

[@ConnectEdNational]

Hi Kristina. We are looking into how to best address your concern. We definitely don't want to spread misinformation. This video has been watched thousands of times and liked a few hundred-- we do think it is a valuable conversation starter. Comments have included, "Looks like an awesome job. Gonna do this. Was thinking about physical therapy but this seems a lot better," and "I'm starting my second year of OT school next month. I love our profession!"

[@ConnectEdNational]

@Kristina I've now also added this to the text below our video: "For more information on the difference between Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, please see: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYLRgJumeZepnqs"

[@fireblade8905]

Have to be white

[@ConnectEdNational]

What makes you say that?

[@fireblade8905]

ConnectEd racism is strong within the UK universities for this course. Many black students have been told to repeat the year or leave the course