Occupational Therapists

What do occupational therapists do?

Occupational therapy aims to help people with disabilities achieve their optimum level of functioning. By using therapeutic activities, both physical and psychosocial functions of clients are enhanced or maintained. Occupational therapists also help their clients restore their roles in their family, workplace and the community.

Occupational therapists work with people of all ages who have functional deficits due to illness or accidents. We contribute in the following speciality areas to serve different client groups:

Fields	Clienteles	Treatment Modalities
Paediatric	Learning difficulties, mentally retarded, developmental disorders	Sensory integration, hand-writing training
Physical	Orthopedics, Cardo-Pulmonary, burns	Splints, pressure therapy, self-care training
Geriatric	Stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease	Reminiscence therapy, reality orientation
Psychiatric	Mood disorder, psychosis, substance abuse	Cognitive-behavorial therapy, social skills training
Cognitive	Traumatic brain injury	Memory, attention, sensory perception training
Vocational	Low back pain, cumulative traumatic diseases	Ergonomics, simulated work training
Environmental Issues	All clients listed above	Home modification, adaptive device prescription

Where do occupational therapists work?

Occupational therapists practise in a variety of settings encompassing both health and welfare sectors, including public and private health organizations, hospitals and rehabilitation centres, nursing homes, special schools, early education training centres, sheltered workshops, hostels, long-stay care homes, vocational training centres, private practices, and consultant agency firms.

Professional recognition

Graduates of our BSc(Hons) in Occupational Therapy programme are recognized by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists and are eligible for registration and practice in overseas countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK, the US, and Singapore.

Further information

For more details, please visit the website of our Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/rs/.