What the heck is OTPF?

Chances are if you're unfamiliar with the field of occupational therapy, you have no idea what the OTPF is. To be completely honest, I didn't even know what it was until recently.

The OTPF is The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework. As my professor described it to us, "The OTPF is the bible of occupational therapy." The OTPF provides occupational therapy practitioners with a framework on how to go about their practice. Along with experience and clinical skill, the OTPF is something to be used to guide assessments, interventions, and outcomes.

As occupational therapists, we are focussed on the health, well-being, participation, and engagement in occupations of our clients. We are client-centered and concerned with the context or environment of the client, their performance skills, and their performance patterns. The OTPF outlines this and the other central concepts of occupational therapy, and is an excellent resource for all practitioners that builds the common understanding and vision of occupational therapy as a profession.

Era Presentations - 1940s

Prompt: Identify a person or event and discuss how the field of OT was impacted.

During the 1940s, World War II was a major event, impacting the lives of almost everyone living during the time. During the war, men were deployed overseas leaving women to tend to all the jobs. Women fulfilled roles that were once seen unconventional for women, working in factories and on farms. Occupational therapy became very popular during this time. Injured men returning from war needed therapy in order to return to their routines and complete their activities of daily living. OT provided jobs to many women. OT was also seen overseas in the war. Starting in 1944, there were emergency occupational therapy courses being taught. This decade also brought about the change in insignia to OTR, standing for "Registered Occupational Therapist." The registration exam was attempted to be given in a short answer format, but because of inconsistent grading criteria, the multiple choice format was adopted. The 1940s was a big decade for OT, and I enjoyed hearing the presentation and learning so much about this time.

My Specialty Interests

After reviewing the AOTA website about Specialty and Board Certifications, I think one of my main interests is in Physical Rehabilitation. For many years I worked in an outpatient physical therapy clinic, and that was something I truly enjoyed. During my observation hours when applying for OT school, I shadowed at many outpatient rehabilitation clinics and really enjoyed it. I think I'm drawn to it because the clients at outpatient facilities are usually more functional and mobile than those in other settings such as inpatient. My specific liking for that stems from the fact that I did not have much in-patient or transferring experience, so I am not comfortable yet with the idea of working with those who are highly dysfunctional. Through my education, I expect to become more comfortable and knowledgeable with working with those with extreme needs.

Another specialty I think looks interesting is Environmental Modification. This specialty would involve working with people who have a disability and finding ways to modify and adapt objects so they can complete their occupations independently. I think it would be an incredible thing help people reach their full potential and complete the tasks they need to do- whether it's feeding themselves with a modified utensil or working on the computer with modified equipment utilizing vision.

As I progress through my education at UTHSC, I am so excited to expand my knowledge of difference specialties and certifications. I'm interested to see if by the end of my schooling these interests of mine will change.

Check out the link below of the different Specialty and Board Certifications on the AOTA website:

https://www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Advance-Career/Board-Specialty-Certifications.aspx