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Why Occupational Therapy?

There are quite a few reasons why I feel so drawn to the profession of occupational therapy. As a current early start therapist and registered behavior technician, I love the aspects of my job where I get to work on adaptive skills or when incorporating sensory play to address sensory processing issues. Some lessons I might work on during daily routines with my clients are dressing, eating, fine motor movement, communication, or writing. The days when I get to incorporate sensory play with my clients is usually a crowd favorite, for me and for the kids. With occupational therapy I get to continue to work in an energetic, play based therapy environment but I will get to specialize in working on those adaptive skills and hopefully get to learn more about sensory integration therapy. The second reason, which may not outweigh the first but definitely lead me to the discovery of occupational therapy, is my younger brother, Michael. Mikey was born with Down Syndrome and diagnosed with autism at 4 years old, I was 8 years old. We did everything together, being the two youngest in the family (5 kids total). Mikey brightens up any room he walks into. He is the first one on and the last one off the dance floor at any wedding and can shoot you a simple smile accompanied with a thumbs up that will fill your heart with joy. Growing up I helped him with adaptive skills all the time, getting dressed, getting ready for the day, using utensils, walking, and signing. I always knew that figuring out a career where I could help kids like Mikey live more independent and meaningful lives was what I loved to do most. I thought about speech therapy, special education teaching, and ABA therapy (which I have loved so much too!) but OT feels right for me. The opportunity I was given at the company I currently work for, as an early start therapist, has allowed me to work with kids at all different developmental stages in many different areas. A lot of the kids whom I have had the pleasure to work with, had a dressing goal to meet or sensory difficulties that we tried to address, and as I worked with these kids, and made memories that I will cherish forever, it made me realize how much I cherish those memories I have with my brother as well. That’s why occupational therapy feels like the right area of study for me, considering what parts of my life/job have made my heart sing the most.