New Brunswick Association of Occupational Therapists

New Brunswick Association of Occupational Therapists

What is an OT?

Occupational Therapist works with a child.

Occupational therapy (OT) helps to solve the problems that interfere with your ability to do the things that are important to you. It can also prevent a problem or minimize its effects.

When an injury, illness, disability or other problem limits your ability to take care of yourself, participate in paid or unpaid work, or enjoy your leisure time- hobbies, sports, spending time with family- then you may want to learn some new skills for the job of living from an occupational therapist.

Who can benefit from Occupational Therapy?

People of all ages who want to improve their skills for the job of living! Does a physical, cognitive, or mental health challenge prevent you from doing all your daily activities: driving a car; taking a bath; getting groceries or going to school?

The many benefits of occupational therapy also extend to anyone we come into contact with: our families, friends and employers, for example. By helping people gain and maintain a higher level of independence and self-sufficiency, Occupational Therapists help ease the strain on our over-burdened health care system. Occupational therapy works!

Examples of things that may interfere with your desire to live life as you want:

  • Spinal cord injury
  • Brain injury, Stroke
  • Mental health problems (e.g. depression)
  • Injuries from vehicle accidents, work-related injury (e.g. amputation)
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Chromosomal abnormalities
  • Parkinson’s, Muscular Dystrophy, ALS, Multiple Sclerosis
  • Arthritis, back pain, joint replacement
  • Alcohol and substance abuse
  • Cumulative trauma injuries (e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome)
  • Burns
  • Spina bifida, cerebral palsy

Learn more about where OTs work in New Brunswick and how you can access services provided by occupational therapists.