ELIZABETH WALZ OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Student Information Session Spring 2015

What is Occupational Therapy?

WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY? use of treatments to develop, recover, or maintain the daily living and work skills of people with a physical, mental or developmental condition Helping people gain independence in their everyday tasks

WHO ARE YOU WORKING WITH? EVERYONE! From pediatrics to geriatrics Mentally, physically, and emotionally disabled Wide range of client types: Post surgery Post stroke Autistic And many more!

WHAT SETTINGS ARE YOU WORKING IN? Schools Nursing Homes Private Practice Prisons and Mental Institutions Traveling Occupational Therapist (at home visits) Hospitals Acute Care Outpatient Care

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? Help patient independently accomplish everyday tasks Use different exercises Alternative methods to completing a task

This sounds so cool! How do I become an OT?

HOW TO BECOME AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST Apply to Undergrad Program Achieve Required Prerequisites for Graduate Program Attend an OT Graduate Program Graduate with Masters of Occupational Therapy Get to work!! Go back to school and receive Doctorate Degree in OT

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS Many different options! Occupational therapy Health and Exercise Science Biology Psychology Undeclared Simply finish prerequisites required for intended graduate program

GENERAL PREREQUISITES Programs vary, these are the main ones that most require Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 Statistics Sociology Human Behavior Some Biology requirement Intro to Psychology Most programs require a few psychology classes

WHAT MAKES YOU A GOOD CANDIDATE? Meet all academic requirements Have leadership experience Attain as many shadowing hours as you can! Have reputable references Be Involved! Volunteer in your community Have a minor Language Psychology Biology

MASTERS PROGRAMS Masters in Occupational Therapy Most programs range from 2-3 years Some programs are linked with an undergraduate program Include lecture and clinical type experiences Some programs in the area: Thomas Jefferson University Seton Hall University Richard Stockton University

DOCTORAL PROGRAMS Usually a 1-2 year program Can be in lecture form (face to face meetings) Also many online options Some programs in the area are: University of the Sciences Thomas Jefferson University

FOR FURTHER HELP FINDING AN ACCREDITED PROGRAM VISIT: American Occupational Therapy Association

WHY OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IS SUCH A REWARDING CAREER If you love people you will love this career! Most places you can make your own hours Average starting salary of an OT today is $75,400 a year Always changing and making new advancements And the best reason of all…. YOU’RE CHANGING LIVES!

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY’S NEWEST DEVELOPMENT SPASTICITY MANAGEMENT USING BOTOX

WHAT IS SPASTICITY? Muscle stiffness A common problem for children with cerebral palsy tight muscles make all movement difficult Can interfere with many motor activities including sitting, walking, feeding, talking and play

WHAT IS BOTOX? Botulinum-A Toxin is a substance made by bacteria can be purified and used safely and effectively to reduce spasticity in specific muscle groups By blocking the chemical signal between nerves and muscles that makes the muscle contract or tighten Provides reliable relief from spasticity symptoms including pain and muscle stiffness It has been used safely in thousands of patients for over 25 years

HOW DOES IT WORK?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS CAN BE SENT TO