Final Reflection

Occupation-based Practice
Occupations are activities one engages in during daily life that reflect and support ones
interests and skills. Engaging in these occupations allow individuals to meet his or her needs and
desires. Furthermore, occupational pursuits develop role and routines within a cultural context
providing that individual with a sense of identity and life meaning. Participation in occupations
is central to ones health, sense of well-being and life satisfaction. The goal of occupation-based
practice is to improve the satisfaction and capacity of individuals, groups, and a society for
engaging in desired occupations where and when they naturally occur.
I was only able to fully understand the term, occupation, after the first year of graduate
school. There were many assignments that pushed me to truly apply occupational-based practice
skills. In semester one, we were required to complete an occupational analysis. I chose the
occupation of pet care (walking the dog) because I participated in this occupation every day. This
assignment required thorough analysis of each segment in the occupation. I was able to view all
the different details that were involved in such a simple, everyday activity. This assignment
guided me in the correct direction for future assignments as well as in clinical practice.
For the pediatric case study, my group and I were given the case of Natalie, a first grade
student with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). As a school-based occupational
therapist, we were required to prepare appropriate goals and treatments for Natalie. What I
learned from this case study is how important collaboration is within the school district to
develop a treatment plan that focused on her occupational performance within her role as a
student. I also learned it is important to research and understand a diagnosis while obtaining the
occupational profile.

Other occupation-based practice assignments included the assistive device, two

occupational profiles and interventions, and an occupation-based home assessment. For the
assistive device, the most difficult moment for me was initially thinking about I could improve
on a corner chair, a commonly used assistive device for children with cerebral palsy or with any
upper body weakness affecting static and dynamic sitting. Then I came up with the idea to have
the corner chair more adaptable and portable for my client, a first grader in a general education
classroom with cerebral palsy. With this idea, building my project was filled with many trials and
errors such as cutting the wood, finding the correct hinges, and sewing the cover for the seat
cushion. However, I am very proud of this assistive device because it supported my client in her
occupations as a student with disabilities in a general education classroom.
The occupational profile and intervention papers were especially helpful assignments to
increase my knowledge in occupation-based practice while corresponding to my observations
and experiences in my Level I fieldwork settings. Writing the occupational profile and
intervention with details into the clients history, reason for services, problem list, short-term and
long-term goals, treatment plan, as well as a model or theory that supported the plan of care,
allowed me to think of every aspect of treating a client. Although the production of the paper was
time-consuming, it further helped me develop skills as an occupational therapist student in Level
II fieldwork. Lastly, the occupation-based home evaluation introduced me to a different but very
important role of being an occupational therapist. In this profession, we must consider all aspects
of a clients natural environment, most importantly his or her home. A home evaluation assesses
and optimizes a clients ability to fully participate in daily activities at home. This assignment
reminded me to always consider the home environment when initially evaluating a client.

In conclusion, I have learned that occupation-based practice requires using relevant

occupations as the primary means to achieve goals that are meaningful to the client and are
related to their performance. Occupations can establish or remediate client skills and body
functions, promote health or prevent dysfunction. We can modify specific tasks of occupations to
better match the clients abilities or adapt aspects of the environment to improve occupational
performance and participation. Occupation-based practice must remain focused on supporting
the clients active and meaningful participation in daily life.