Occupational therapy staff help people of all ages who have physical, mental or social problems as a result of accident, illness or ageing, to do the things they want to do. These could be daily activities that many of us take for granted, from grocery shopping or brushing your teeth, to more complex activities such as caring for children, succeeding in studies or work, or maintaining a healthy social life.

 
This short film explains how occupational therapists help people carry out the activities they need or want to do. People describe how they have benefited from occupational therapy services making a huge difference to their lives.

An occupational therapist’s work could involve:

• Making sure that homes, workplaces and public places are accessible for people with specific needs, for example wheelchair users or people with walking difficulties or partial sight
• Helping people to learn new or different ways of doing things, for example how do you think you would turn over this page if you couldn’t use your hands?
• Adapting materials or equipment, for example what might you suggest if a computer keyboard was difficult to use?
• Advising in schools to help children overcome obstacles such as writing difficulties and other learning challenges
• Heading up a disability management programme for an organisation, or return-to-work programmes for people with anxiety or back problems
• Assisting an ageing couple to care for one another in their own home and remain independent and safe
• Helping someone manage their depression in order to return to work or continue with their studies
• Setting up a rehabilitation programme in a developing or war-torn region
• Working with socially excluded groups, such as the homeless or asylum seekers