Occupational therapy is a treatment model designed for individuals who are unable to be independent in daily life or who wish to become more active. The word “ergo” means “work” or “occupation.”
Occupational therapists use meaningful and purposeful activities as part of their treatment approach. People learn effectively through trial and error and active engagement. When the human brain decides to initiate a movement, it must send signals to the muscles and nerves. For a person to receive and implement this signal in the best possible way, the resulting movement must be performed accurately and consistently. This is where occupational therapists play a vital role — they guide and teach practical activities, helping to create the most effective learning pathways in the brain.
Occupational therapy plays a role in the treatment of impairments in mental (cognitive), social, or physical abilities caused by any illness, accident, congenital pathology, or aging.
The goal is to enable individuals to regain independence in their daily living activities (such as bathing, eating, brushing teeth, dressing, etc.), and to maintain their condition at the highest possible level by ensuring an ergonomic lifestyle. The occupational therapist provides techniques and tools that help the person adapt to life. They teach how to use these tools and assist during their use.
By helping individuals gain new activities, occupational therapists contribute to their reintegration and adaptation to society. To this end, they implement various rehabilitation programs (social, artistic, vocational, etc.) either individually or in groups. They identify and teach the use of necessary tools, methods, and equipment to gain independence in daily life.
Occupational therapists assess the limitations of individuals with physical and mental disabilities and plan what these individuals can do in their daily lives. The plan aims for the person with a disability to perform at their highest possible level at home, work, school, etc. All of these factors significantly contribute to the physical, psychological, and emotional development of the individuals.
Individuals who have lost some of their functions due to injury or illness need to increase their independence in daily living activities (such as dressing, self-care, mobility, and eating) through teaching specific methods and accompanying them during the application of these methods. (For example, techniques for transferring from bed to wheelchair, one-handed activity training, etc.) This is where occupational therapy comes into play.
Teaching and training the use of assistive devices for the same purpose (for example, specially designed utensils with altered handles for people with poor grip, long-handled tools for those lacking trunk balance or reaching ability, wheelchair and car adaptations, etc.).
Work capacity enhancement programs, job adaptation programs, vocational rehabilitation for disabled individuals, and job coaching programs.
Preventive and early intervention programs aimed at improving community health and quality of life (such as training to prevent back and neck injuries at workplaces, teaching activity-rest principles, stress management programs, relaxation training, and implementation of school programs).
Home rehabilitation and home modifications (for example, rearranging household items to prevent falls and facilitate safe and independent living for elderly and disabled individuals; installing grab bars in bathrooms, toilets, and other rooms; building ramps and other architectural adaptations for wheelchair users).
Specialized occupational therapy training and environmental adaptations to promote independence for visually impaired and low vision individuals.
Functional development and social approaches for various disorders such as autism, cerebral palsy, dyslexia, Down syndrome, microcephaly, muscular diseases, stroke, intellectual disabilities, orthopedic injuries, etc.
Special treatment approaches for cognitive and physical functions in neurological disorders.
Activities and occupational engagement aimed at enhancing independence in daily living and social participation in psychiatric disorders.
Use of activity training models for disabled, elderly, and other socially marginalized individuals and groups.
Treatment methods should be applied alone or as complementary programs according to the child’s needs.