Occupational Therapist Assistants

On the Job

Overview

Occupational therapist assistants help people with disabilities develop skills. They work under the supervision of occupational therapists.

If you cannot use your mouth or hands to speak, then you have lost the ability to communicate, right? Wrong. People can communicate with their eyes, using them to signal simple words like "yes" and "no," and even complex sentences and paragraphs. In fact, a woman named Julia Tavalaro wrote a book of poetry entitled, "Look Up For Yes." She wrote it using a special eye scan system that was devised by a team of occupational therapists and assistants. Julia is unable to speak out loud or move her limbs, but nevertheless she has proved to be a forceful communicator.

Occupational therapist assistants help people who have mental, physical, or developmental disabilities. Their goal is to help patients live more independently. Occupational therapist assistants help therapists give tests to patients. These tests measure patients' existing abilities. Assistants also help evaluate patients' daily living skills so therapists know where patients need to improve. Once they have this information, occupational therapists design treatment plans that list the skills patients need to learn or improve.

Assistants help patients with the activities and exercises listed in treatment plans. Activities include self-care and work-related skills. For example, one activity might be for a patient to learn how to get from a bed to a wheelchair. Assistants help patients determine what steps are needed to perform each activity and then help patients perform the steps. Depending on the activity, such as games or crafts, assistants may demonstrate the steps. As patients carry out these tasks, assistants monitor their performance. They provide feedback and encouragement. Depending on the patient's physical ability, they may help them with grooming and getting dressed.

Assistants notify occupational therapists of patients' progress. In addition, assistants keep records of what tasks they practiced with patients and how well patients did. They also monitor supplies and order more when needed. They may recommend changes to treatment plans, if necessary.

Occupational therapist assistants design and adapt equipment to help patients perform tasks. For example, they may make or put together splints and other devices. They may adapt patients' physical surroundings by moving items to places where patients can reach them more easily. In addition, assistants teach patients and their families about basic living skills at home. They also instruct patients about the care and use of special equipment.

Occupational therapist assistants may perform some clerical duties. They may schedule appointments, process bills, and maintain files.

Work Activities

The following list of occupational tasks is specific to this career.

• Help give tests to patients to measure their abilities and progress.
• Teach self-care and work-related skills to people with disabilities.
• Lead activities, such as games and crafts, to improve patients' skills.
• Monitor patients' activities to make sure they are performed correctly. Provide encouragement.
• Gather materials for tasks. Assemble and maintain equipment.
• Observe patients and record information about their progress.
• Help patients dress and groom themselves.
• Report observations to occupational therapists.
• Teach patients and their families about basic living skills at home. Instruct them in the care and use of special equipment.
• Adapt equipment and surroundings to better suit patients. Make changes to treatment plans if needed.
• Make or put together splints and other devices.
• Keep patient records and prepare reports.
• Monitor inventory and order supplies. May schedule appointments and process health insurance forms.

People in this career perform the following list of tasks, but the tasks are common to many occupations.

• Assist and care for others.
• Make decisions and solve problems.
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates.
• Get information needed to do the job.
• Establish and maintain relationships.
• Evaluate information against standards.
• Document and record information.
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work.
• Identify objects, actions, and events.
• Schedule work and activities.
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings.
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others.
• Think creatively.
• Perform activities that use the whole body.
• Develop and build teams.
• Coordinate the work and activities of others.
• Process information.
• Explain the meaning of information to others.

Working Conditions

In a typical work setting, people in this career:

Interpersonal Relationships

• Have a high level of social contact. They work closely with patients and coworkers.
• Communicate by telephone and in person on a daily basis. They also use letters and memos, but less often.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of patients.
• May occasionally be placed in conflict situations. They often deal with people who are angry or unpleasant due to discomfort, pain, or mental disabilities.
• Nearly always work as part of a team.

Physical Work Conditions

• Often work indoors. However, they may lead outdoor activities on occasion.
• Sometimes wear a special uniform.
• Are often exposed to diseases or infections when interacting with patients.
• Often wear safety gear, such as gloves, when working with patients.
• Work very near others. They come in close physical contact with patients on a daily basis.

Work Performance

• Must be very exact in their work so that patients learn as much as possible.
• Make decisions that greatly impact other assistants, therapists, and patients on a daily basis. They make most decisions without talking to a supervisor, but may talk to a therapist first.
• Set most of their daily tasks and goals without talking to a supervisor first.
• Abide by strict daily deadlines.
• Repeat the same physical activities.

Hours/Travel

• May work part time or full time. Part time work is common.
• May occasionally work evenings or weekends.
• Generally work a set schedule.

Physical Demands

In a typical work setting, people in this career:

People in this career frequently:

• Stand while leading activities.
• Use hands to handle, control, or feel objects or tools.
• Walk for long periods of time.
• Bend or twist their body.
• Kneel, stoop, crouch, or crawl.

It is important for people in this career to be able to:

• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for people in this career to be able to:

• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Determine from which direction a sound came.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• See objects in very bright or glaring light.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.