April is Occupational Therapy Month: What Can Occupational Therapy Do For You?

April 25, 2012

By Stephanie Yamkovenko

Last year’s World Report on Disability found that there are 1 billion people in the world with disabilities. Many individuals with disabilities can’t find jobs—in fact, 71% of Americans with disabilities do not participate in the workforce (compared with 30% of individuals without disabilities).

AOTA As the occupational therapy profession celebrates Occupational Therapy (OT) Month this April, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) wants all individuals with disabilities to know that, no matter their disability, everyone should have the opportunity to participate in meaningful activities and occupations. Occupational therapy practitioners work with individuals with a variety of disabilities (physical, developmental, cognitive, etc.) to help them discover ways to participate fully in life.

Young adults with developmental disabilities, such as autism or Down syndrome, can work with an occupational therapy practitioner to transition from high school to a life after graduation—whether that’s finding a job, going to college, or developing strategies to live as independently as possible. Read the Role of Occupational Therapy in Facilitating Employment of Individuals With Developmental Disabilities.