Katlyn Dupree's Blog

So what is the OTPF, and what is its purpose? OTPF stands for Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, so pretty much the OTPF is there for occupational therapists, occupational therapy students, and any other healthcare providers. It is there to set guidelines that describe occupational therapy practice. In my opinion it’s main purpose is to get everyone on the same page. Whether it is an occupational therapist, a student, or a healthcare provider, the OTPF establishes common ground and understanding for all of the different aspects of occupational therapy. The OTPF contains what an occupational therapists knows, and it also contains what they do. So basically it is the occupational therapy Bible.

I had a blast today watching and participating in the era presentations. I not only learned so much about all of the decades, but I also learned so much about OT as a profession. The era presentations solidified something I have already learned in my time in OT school, and that is that occupational therapists must be adaptable. This was apparent through all of the presentations. With new inventions and new fads people’s needs will change, and OTs must be able to adapt to whatever the decades will hold. For example, the group who presented on the 1960’s talked about the invention of platform shoes, and with that invention came problems with feet. This need opened up a new area of practice for occupational therapists. Another example of adaptability is how the invention of computers and newer technologies such as video games and cell phones has caused carpal tunnel issues. This also opened up more areas of practice for occupational therapists. It is exciting to me to see how far occupati

Before beginning occupation therapy school, I feel I had very basic knowledge about where an occupational therapist can work. Of course there are the places everyone knows about like schools, nursing homes, and inpatient clinics, but there are also tons of other settings, that I would have never even thought of. I am learning daily of different places an OT can work, and some of these places blow my mind. For example, OTs can work in the communities with troubled kids or they can set up adaptive equipment in someone’s home. An OT doesn’t have to be in a traditional setting to be doing OT, which is something that is so cool about the profession. The possibilities are endless, and there are always new areas of practice. I look forward to all of the new settings I will be learning about, as I continue my education to become an OT. My learning has been shaped in the short amount of time I have been a student. I have started looking at things through an OT lens. Looking for ways an OT can i