Program Goals

A graduate of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program will:

• Have achieved entry-level competence through a combination of academic and fieldwork education.
• Be prepared to work under the supervision of, and in cooperation with, the occupational therapist.
• Be prepared to articulate and apply occupational therapy principles and intervention tools to achieve expected outcomes as related to occupation.
• Be prepared to articulate and apply therapeutic use of occupations with individuals or groups for the purpose of participation in roles and situations in home school, workplace, community and other settings.
• Be able to address the physical, cognitive, psychosocial, sensory and other aspects of performance in a variety of contexts and environments to support engagement in everyday life activities that affect health, well-being and quality of life.
• Be prepared to be a lifelong learner and stay current with best practice.
• Uphold the ethical standards, values and attitudes of the occupational therapy profession.
• Understand the distinct roles and responsibilities of the occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant in the supervisory process.
• Be prepared to effectively communicate and work inter-professionally with those who provide care for individuals and/or populations in order to clarify each member's responsibility in executing components of an intervention plan.
• Be prepared to advocate as a professional for the occupational therapy services offered and for the recipients of those services.