The History of Occupational Therapy

What is occupational therapy? Well, occupational therapy refers to the consequential activities given to help people who are having difficulties balancing and achieving healthy lifestyle. It also helps in enabling a comprehensive society wherein all people can participate on their daily occupations and potentials of life. An occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant works directly with various individuals who have difficulties in performing or accessing meaningful occupations. He or she also directly works with people who have disabilities and an occupational therapy will greatly help them enable and maximize their abilities and skills.

An occupational therapy provides people the various skills for the job of living that are necessary for living and satisfying meaningful lives. Among the services of occupational therapies include guidance to caregivers and family members, usage training and adaptive equipment recommendations, performance skills treatments and assessments, comprehensive job and home based evaluations with adaptive recommendations, and customized intervention programs that will help improve the ability of the person in performing his or her daily activities.

The early utilization of occupational therapy began in Aotearoa, New Zealand. It was use to rehabilitate, treat and support people. The occupational therapy had become very evident after the historical event of World War I in the year 1949 right after the returned of the soldiers on their services. However, in 1930, occupational therapy was also glimpsed. The first ever known occupational therapist in New Zealand was Margaret Buchanan. She was recognized in the year 1941 after getting employed in the Auckland Mental Hospital where she rapidly got involved with the development occupational therapy during the time. Initially, professionals with health education backgrounds are given the chance of being trained for occupational therapy by Margaret Buchanan. But later on, a formal two-year program course was established for those who want to learn occupational therapy. In line with this, New Zealand had issued an act concerning occupational therapy in the country. The act was called as the Occupational therapy Act of 1949. Also in the year 1948, an association was formed for occupational therapy, which was called as the New Zealand Registered Occupational Therapists Association.

Meanwhile in the United States, occupational therapy had begun in 1917 upon the foundation of the Society for the Promotion of Occupational therapy, which is now called as The American Occupational therapy Association Incorporated. The creation of this society was obligated to the belief of human occupation in the curative properties. In the United States, occupational therapy is a part of the moral treatment movement that is being supported by some institutions for mental health services. It had also played a very significant role in epidemics as well as providing treatment for patients with HIV/AIDS, polio and tuberculosis. Due to the enactment of legislation in the year 1975, thousands of occupational therapists were employed to provide occupational therapeutic services as well as enabling children with disabilities to be able to participate with their regular school settings. They were hired by the public schools. Also, the occupational therapists from the approved training programs given are needed to be certified or licensed by the American Occupational therapy Association.