College of St. Catherine - Occupational Therapy Assistant Program


College Home \| Occupational Science/Occupation Therapy Department \| Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Contact Information:
Admissions Office
601 25th Avenue S.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
(651) 690-7803

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IS A REWARDING PROFESSION

“Occupational Therapy is a vibrant, growing profession where you can make a difference by helping to improve the lives of children, young people and adults alike.” ( American Occupational Therapy Association)

It is a profession that focuses on enabling people to engage in human occupation, which means to participate in the "day-to-day" activities that are meaningful to their lives. Through their interventions, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help individuals/groups regain and or maintain health as well as function by engaging them in a variety of occupations that promote and maintain physical, cognitive, spiritual and emotional health. Occupational therapy addresses issues of balance in a person’s life, health on a continuum from wellness to illness, and lifestyle re-design so that individuals can engage in activities and life roles that are meaningful to them.

Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants work in collaboration and cooperation with each other to plan and implement intervention programs. Populations served by occupational therapy can be found in educational, community and healthcare settings. Some of these include:

schools

adult day care programs

businesses

sheltered workshops

camp

home programs

community centers

clinics

hospitals

rehabilitation centers

long-term care facilities

Employment in the field of occupational therapy is projected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations through 2012 (US Department of Labor-Bureau of Labor Statistics).

The need for occupational therapy is increasing as the rapid growth in the number of middle-aged and elderly individuals increases the demand for therapeutic services; technological advances are saving more high risk, premature infants who need occupational therapy services; more efficient and effective medical care is saving victims of trauma who benefit from therapy; there is an increased need for therapists to work with school aged children with disabilities and an increased need for occupational therapy services among those injured in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

For more information about a career as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, go to the National Institute of Health Life Works.