Contact: Jacqueline Webel

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• Contact Jacqueline Webel
• AOTA member
• 245 Union Blvd., 405
• St. Louis, MO 63108
• 217-257-2712
• webelj_at_wustl.edu
• Ashley Stoffel, Angie Monzin, April Valle,
  Kristen Lindeman, Karen Schroeder, Jessica
  Sweeney, Molly Listenberger
• February 14, 2005
• Washington University School of Medicine
• Program in Occupational Therapy
• P.O. Box 8505

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Areas of Interest Astronomy, Chemistry,
Environment, Physics, Mathematics, Medicine,
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Inserts

Occupational therapists use problem-solving
skills and analytical thinking to understand how
things work in the natural and built environment.
They also use a variety of instruments to measure
the human body and understand how a disability
affects human function and abilities.

Knowledge of the latest technology is very
important to occupational therapy. Design and
mechanics help occupational therapists provide
technological solutions to minimize everyday
barriers that individuals experience.

Occupational therapists use their creative skills
to provide home modifications, commercial and
personal property designs, assistive technology,
and creative therapy techniques. OTs design a
more accessible environment and use a multitude
of low-cost materials to create tools that help
clients lead more meaningful and independent
lives.

As occupational therapists, it is important to
understand the health care policy that the
profession abides by in order to promote change.
OTs can own their own businesses, be leaders in
allied health care, and manage rehabilitation
departments.

Occupational therapists need to have extensive
knowledge about the human body. OTs promote
healthy interactions within the environment by
educating the client on appropriate body
mechanics. Movement and fitness are a meaningful
part of living and an OT can encourage clients to
participate in athletics to improve their
lifestyle.
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Occupational therapists work with people and
impact their daily lives. OTs work
collaboratively with clients, family members, and
other professionals in order to generate
effective treatment plans. An occupational
therapist assumes many roles, such as an
educator, a counselor, a communicator, and a
researcher when working with clients.

Health and wellness is an integral part of
occupational therapy practice. Health promotion
plays a large role in enabling individuals to
fully utilize their abilities and participate in
daily life activities. Occupational therapists
promote healthy living in clients through various
means, and they interact with multiple members of
the health care team to optimize overall health
in individuals and communities.

Occupational therapists need to have good
research and documentation skills to analyze
situations in rehabilitation. OTs problem-solve
and use medical research evidence along with
patient history to provide successful treatment.

Occupational therapists work with a variety of
populations. Culture is an important part of
people, and OTs use what is important to the
patient in therapy. OTs need to be educated in
cultural differences of health and daily living
in order to provide quality care.

The focus of research for occupational therapy is
to establish evidence to guide treatment and
rehabilitation. Occupational therapy is in need
of pioneers in the research world to provide
evidence for understanding individual function,
as well as how the environment and society impact
performance.