A Potential Specialty in Occupational Therapy

     Growing up with my mom being a teacher, I have always loved going to visit her classroom whenever I got the chance. She often has what is called an inclusion class, where students with special needs (Down syndrome, autism, etc.) will be in the class with "typical" students, as opposed to putting those children into a class room that is designated for only students with special needs. After getting the chance to interact with these kids in a setting where they were so loved and encouraged to do their best, I knew that one day I wanted to work with them.

     For a while when I was in grade school, I wanted to be a teacher like my mom, but she gently discouraged me from this, and instead encouraged going into the medical field or something similar. Something that motivated me to pursue a career in occupational therapy was knowing that I could potentially work in the school system and help kids like those that I saw in my mom's classes over the years. Because of this, I am very interested in one day getting a Specialty Certification in School Systems from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

     According to the AOTA website, a main part of being a practitioner in the school system, as well as having a specialty in the school systems, is increasing the awareness of stakeholders (those who have an investment in occupational therapy, whether that is financially, such as insurance companies, or emotionally, such as parents of students) to the importance of occupations that students engage in and the impact occupational therapists can have on students. Specialists in the school system must keep up with the ever-changing educational field, and also use science-based practice in the schools. To earn a specialty in the school systems, an occupational therapist must have at least 2,000 hours working as an occupational therapist, with at least 600 of those hours giving occupational therapy services to clients in the school system, and the 600 hours must have been in the last five years (from the Specialty Certification in School Systems, Occupational Therapist Application). The therapist must also submit an extensive application that includes a portfolio with completion of several specific criteria.

     While I am currently interested in one day working in the school system, I know that I still have a lot left to learn about the many areas of service available for occupational therapists to work in. I cannot wait to find out more about all of the opportunities that will be opened to me, and I look forward to seeing where this path takes me.