Occupational therapists work with injured, sick, or disabled patients by applying therapeutic properties to everyday activities that treat their patients’ conditions. Patients include children and young adults in educational or clinical settings, where they evaluate disabled children’s abilities and advise on appropriate classroom modifications.
Occupational therapists assist patients recovering from incidents including accidents or illnesses, and they help patients to develop, improve, and maintain the skills they need to go back to their daily living, or to resume normal activity. They also assist patients living with permanent disabilities, including paralysis of cerebral palsy, with plans and tactics that assist them with their daily lives and activities. They provide guidance on using adaptive equipment, including wheelchairs or leg braces, and help achieve progress that allows their patients to function on a more independent basis, and provide consultation. Occupational therapists need a master's degree in occupational therapy and licensing.