| Occupational Therapists help people to improve their | | | | drive using a combination of clinical and on-the-road |
| ability to perform a variety of daily tasks. This is | | | | tests. |
| especially useful for people who have disabilities that | | | | As an Occupational Therapist in a mental health |
| are mental, physical, emotional or developmental. Thus, | | | | setting, you will be able to treat patients who are |
| Occupational Therapists help disabled people to | | | | mentally ill, emotionally disturbed or mentally retarded. |
| overcome their disabilities - whether in their daily life or | | | | You will use a number of activities to treat such |
| in their work environment. | | | | patients. These activities include helping your patients |
| The basic function of Occupational Therapists is to | | | | with shopping, home making, and the use of public |
| enable their clients to have productive, fulfilling and | | | | transportation. You may also work with patients |
| independent lives - despite their disabilities. The | | | | suffering from depression, alcoholism, drug abuse, |
| Occupational Therapist also helps their clients to | | | | eating disorders or stress related disorders. |
| improve their basic motor functions, reasoning abilities, | | | | In order to create your Occupational Therapy career, |
| and also to compensate for a permanent loss of any | | | | you would have to obtain a Masters Degree in |
| function. In this way, people with disabilities can benefit | | | | Occupational Therapy and then pass a national |
| from the help offered by Occupational Therapists and | | | | certification exam to get become a Registered |
| become functional individuals and overcome their | | | | Occupational Therapist. You can also advance your |
| disabilities. | | | | career by specializing in a particular ailment or a |
| Typically, as an Occupational Therapist, you will be | | | | particular type of patient and even engage in teaching |
| involved in assisting your clients with the performing of | | | | classes. |
| a number of activities like dressing, cooking, eating, and | | | | As an Occupational Therapist your earnings will largely |
| even using the computer. You will be involved in using | | | | depend on the kind of patients you care for and the |
| a number of physical exercises to increase the | | | | place where you work. The annual salary can |
| strength and dexterity of your clients, and even a | | | | therefore range from anywhere between $45,000 to |
| number of activities to improve vision, and so forth - | | | | $67,000. |
| depending on the disability of the client. | | | | Thus with your career as a Occupational Therapist, |
| As an Occupational Therapist, you would also be able | | | | you can be in the unique position of helping people with |
| to help the elderly by helping them to be more | | | | disabilities achieve independence and lead fuller, more |
| productive and active via a number of methods. You | | | | satisfying lives. |
| can also help in assessing an individual’s ability to | | | | |