Semester 1
Occupational Therapy is more intricate than I realized. Despite spending many years around the profession and even conducting weekly in-home sessions during COVID with an OT over teletherapy, I never fully grasped or connected the complexity of what it means to be an Occupational Therapist and the vast importance of the profession. For instance, I was familiar with ADL's and IADL's before taking this course, but I hadn't realized the depth of what Occupations meant in relation to an OT's work with a client during a session. It truly encapsulates the meaningful daily activities individuals engage in by themselves, with family/friends, or within a community.
The core of Occupational Therapy lies in activity analysis. This involves understanding the demands placed on various activities. OT's consider multiple factors to determine the requirements for completing a specific activity, such as necessary materials, detailed steps, adaptation/grading, contextual elements, and performance skills.
From there, OT's analyze occupational performances to assess a client's capabilities within an occupation and the contexts/demands in which they operate. For example, dressing, like donning pants, is significant activity. An activity analysis will lay out what exactly is needed to don pants. However, a client may face challenges in completing certain steps. OT's identify what is needed for the client to be able to don pants and what may be hindering the client. Client factors, body functions, environmental/personal aspects, space and social demands, body structures, and performance skills are all taken into consideration.
Based on this analysis, intervention strategies and plans are then tailored to assist the client in donning pants. OT's may suggest adaptations, define necessary performance skills/patterns, or recommend modifications to facilitate the process.
Reflecting on my initial thoughts, being an OT truly encompasses an individuals essence, actions, and what holds significance for that individual. While complex, Occupational Therapy plays a crucial role in aiding clients towards achieving success in their occupations.
As I sit here and type this, I am truly grateful for the knowledge I have gained and acquired thus far. It has been a humbling experience that I deeply appreciate.
OTA Reflections
Below is an example of the latest Activity Analysis I completed for 101L:
The second semester brought a mix of joys and challenges. Balancing my role as a full-time student with being a mother to identical twin girls who are Autistic and have hypotonia made it quite difficult to juggle both responsibilities. This semester also marked my first experience with fieldwork level 1, which introduced an entirely new range of experiences. I transitioned from the classroom to the real world, where I saw theories come to life through practical application. The thrill of applying my knowledge in real situations was truly invigorating. I also encountered amazing individuals who shared their insights, stories and wisdom, enriching my understanding with each interaction. There were moments of success when projects came together beautifully, as well as moments of learning when things didn’t unfold as expected. These experiences taught me resilience, adaptability, and the value of collaboration. As the semester advanced, I grew a little more confident in my abilities in becoming an Occupational Therapist Assistant.
Below is an example from a character paper I wrote for course OTA 102.
