Celebrate Occupational Therapy Month!

By Mallory O'Dell

“So, you help people return to work after an injury?” This is the most asked question you hear when first telling someone that you work in the Occupational Therapy (OT) field. When people hear “occupation” their first thought is “job.” In a sense, this is accurate because we help people of all ages return to their “job,” although not in the typical sense.

According to AOTA (American Occupat ional Therapy Association), “Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants focus on the things you can and need to do in your daily life. Occupational therapy intervention uses everyday life activities (occupations) to promote health, well-being and the ability to participate in the important activities in life.” Goals for OT are unique to each individual and encompass a variety of activities across the life span. OT can be used to:

• Restore: improve abilities lost/impaired by injury/illness

• Maintain: incorporate methods to prevent a decline in function/physical abilities

• Modify: adapt the task/environment to promote independence

• Promote/Develop: Encourage new skills that will be used in daily life

OT Practitioners are skilled professionals with a strong knowledge of a person’s psychological, physical, emotional, sensory, cognitive, and social makeup. They work in a variety of settings, including skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers and in early intervention with children (birth-3 years).

I am fortunate enough to work in this incredible field since 2021, when graduating from Piedmont Technical College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. After passing my board exam, I worked with the owner of Palmetto Pediatric OT, LLC to build a caseload in my hometown of Newberry County. I have been privileged to work as a COTA/L with many local children ever since.

Haylee Dawkins Mitchell MSRS, OTR/L began Palmetto Pediatric OT, LLC in October 2008. She is a graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina in 2006, where she served as the president of her class. Haylee founded the company in an effort to assure that children and their families become equipped with the skills necessary to grow and develop. Palmetto Pediatric OT, LLC therapists strive to provide quality therapy services to our children and families in order for them to play, function, and be successful in their everyday life.

At Palmetto Pediatric OT, therapists work in the Early Intervention field with children who range in age and diagnoses. As children grow, they are expected to meet a large list of “milestones,” including head control, rolling, crawling, and many more. Some children may take longer to develop these skills on their own and require the support of an OT Practitioner. This is where the “Promote/Develop” component kicks in.

One exciting component of working in the pediatric field of OT is that the caseload is ever changing. You may work with a client who has concentration challenges to attend to task for a length of time, or support a child with autism to socialize, and then help a child with a physical or developmental disability to get dressed or complete a hygiene routine.

Every April, we celebrate Occupational Therapy Month to honor our vital profession and the meaningful difference it makes in the lives of our clients. We encourage you to check out AOTA.org for more information regarding Occupational Therapy.