(This is the third in a series of articles the Chronicle will be publishing in observance of Rehab Week 2013.  Rehab Week 2013 is being observed under the theme: ‘Rehabilitation Moving Forward: New Ventures, New Technologies’)

Knowing about Occupational Therapy:
Occupational therapy is a profession that works with people who have a temporary or permanent disability. It offers the client opportunities to achieve an optimal way of performance in activities of daily living. These consist of self-care (washing, dressing, cooking), work (paid or voluntary work, playing a useful role within the family) and leisure (games, sport, crafts).
These activities are used as a therapeutic medium to help individuals improve their ability to function and be as independent as possible. Occupational Therapists believe that using activities that are meaningful to the person would help them to improve more effectively. Thus, the activities that clients find difficult to perform are either adapted or modified to enable participation – for instance, transfers, getting dressed, housekeeping, school and hobbies.
Occupational Therapists and Rehabilitation Assistants work with people who have a variety of disabilities, from birth to older age and they come from all backgrounds.  Common types of disability that OTs work with include Stroke, Head Injury,  Accidents (road accidents, work related injuries),  Amputee, Arthritis, Mental Health difficulties, Cerebral Palsy, Down’s Syndrome, Learning Disabilities, Autism.

For more information on Occupational Therapy please visit the Association of Caribbean Occupational Therapists at http://www.caribbeanot.com/ or World Federation of Occupational Therapists at http://www.wfot.org/

Occupational Therapy services are provided in all 10 administrative regions and can be accessed at any Rehabilitation Department.
If you or someone you know has a disability and would like more information, please contact us and we will put you in touch with someone in your area:

Division of Rehabilitation Services, Ministry of Health
Telephone: 223-7087
E-mail: ministry.health@networksgy.com

Rehab Week 2013 – Theme: “Rehabilitation moving forward: New Ventures, New Technologies”