How often do you find yourself explaining what you do for work? As an occupational therapist, it probably happens to me on a weekly basis. I love my profession and think it has immense value, but we’re kind of the red-headed stepchild of the rehab field. Even other medical professionals often don’t quite understand what it is that we do. In a phrase, we help people gain independence. But that obviously looks quite different for a 67-year-old after a hip replacement vs a 21-year-old with borderline personality disorder trying to live alone for the first time. And when I tell people I work with kids it adds even another line of questioning. No, I’m not here to help kids find jobs (most of the time). But I do work with kids with disabilities like autism, cerebral palsy, and ADHD to help them live their lives to the fullest. In the school system, that means helping them develop all the skills they need to be successful as a student like motor development, attention and engagement, social skills, executive function, etc. Want to know more? Check out my day in the life at My OT Spot. And please let me know if you have any questions!