Occupational Therapy

For the Service Bent

Introduction:

Occupational therapy is a therapy that helps assist people with disabilities to achieve a healthy and balanced lifestyle and to enable them to do their daily chores.

Persons trained in occupational therapy are those who are engaged in practicing occupational therapy. In other words, occupational therapists help patients suffering from mental or physical illness achieve the highest possible independence in performing in their day to day activities, which includes grooming, eating, playing, etc. The type of therapy involved for each patient is different as the disability varies. Customizing the treatment for the patients is the major work of the occupational therapists; for example, advising on the use of wheel chairs, aids for eating etc., apart from assessing their progress.

Occupational therapists work with people suffering from post-paralytic or cardiac arrest, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and such other conditions, work-related injuries, mental disorders, burns and amputations, accidents and this list goes on.

Eligibility:

Aspirants completed 10+2 with physics, mathematics and chemistry as main subjects are eligible to join this course. The Bachelor’s Degree is for duration of four years. To become a licensed practitioner, those completing the course must earn this degree from a recognized programme, and pass a national certification exam. Students with strong inclination towards service, good communication skills, team spirit and ability to work hard are strong contenders to do this course.

Jobs:

Occupational therapists are in great demand with the new methods of treatment in place. Moreover, as their work is not limited to any specific area of disability they may choose their own sphere of work such specializing in a particular disability. Job opportunities exist in clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, psychiatric institutions, etc. Private practice is also booming.

Courses:

Depending on one’s interests the candidates willing to pursue a course on Occupational Therapy can opt for a specialized subject from the numerous courses offered. Some of these courses are: Community Health Workers Course, Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Technology, Pharmacology/Pharmacy, Psychology, Hearing, Language and Speech, and Prosthetic and Orthotic Courses.