This Sound Bite will detail why Off Season uses fundamentals of Occupational Therapy as an integral part in how Off Season provides services to their clients. Off Season uses the evidence based principles and science that are the foundation of occupational therapy as well as it’s guiding philosophy of “What Matters To You!”  and not “What Is The Matter With You?” Occupational therapy is a licensed medical profession that is a practice for the Rehabilitation of the Body and Mind. The Association of American Occupational Therapy define Occupational Therapy as, “The therapeutic use of occupations, including everyday life activities with individuals, groups, populations, or organizations to support participation, performance, and function in roles and situations in the home, work place, school, community and other settings”

Occupational Therapy addresses the physical, cognitive, psycho-social, sensory-perceptual, and other aspects of performance in a variety of contexts and environments, to support engagement in occupations that affect physical and mental health. Occupational therapist work and collaborate with physicians, physical, speech, developmental, behavior, and cognitive therapists, as well as psychologist, educators, social worker, and various other professionals.

Occupational therapy services are provided for habilitation, rehabilitation, and the promotion of health and wellness to those who have or are at risk for developing an illness, injury, disease, disorder, condition, impairment disability, activity limitation, or participation restriction.

Occupational therapists provide individuals with the knowledge, tools, adaptations, and whatever else may be required for them to achieve well-being and balance in their occupations. Occupation is viewed as the everyday activities that an individual does that gives meaning and purpose to life. Occupational therapists are trained to assist individuals that are experiencing difficulties, need to, or want to improve in an area of occupation. There are 8 areas of Occupation that an individual should have well-being and balance, which are;n Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), Rest and Sleep, Education, Work, Leisure, Play, and Social Participation. ADLs consists of self-care skills such as bathing, dressing, eating, oral/facial care, and sexual activity, etc. IADLs are also activities to support daily life but are considered to usually require more complex interactions than ADLs. Financial management, home maintenance, health and medication management and care of others are some IADLs.

Occupational Therapists are trained to perform critical thinking to use their education in scientific understanding of anatomy, neuro-science, psycho-social development, activity/environmental analysis, and group dynamics. They take these understandings and use problem solving and creativity to make practical meaningful changes in a person’s life. There are 9 Occupational Therapy Specialties: Mental Health, Physical Rehabilitation, Pediatrics, Gerontology, Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing, Environmental Modification, Driving and Community Mobility

Occupational Therapists assist individuals where they live, work, and play, as it their purpose to assist the individual in living their life in the most balanced and functional manner that is possible. This means assisting the individual in achieving activities that one has to, needs to, or wants to do, regardless of injury, illness, condition, disability, life style, or environment. The roles and activities that individuals perform and participate in shapes and builds our physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual health. Some of these roles are being a parent, student, employee, employer, neighbor, and caregiver, etc. Some of the activities are skiing, dancing, studying, learning, teaching, interacting with others, etc. Off Season believes as the profession of Occupational Therapy in being able to assist clients no matter who they are or what area of their life they need assistance.