Occupational Therapy is a health care profession that supports, develops, and builds skills that are important for independence, health, well-being, and life satisfaction. Occupational Therapists use the term "occupation" to mean everyday life activities - what people do to occupy themselves for what is important to them.

The profession views occupation as both a means and an end. The process of providing intervention may involve the use of occupation as a method of changing performance, but the desired result is also a person's engagement in meaningful occupation.

Occupational Therapy has always been holistic and client-centered and therefore complements the current philosophy and mission of the J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center to "support each persons needs for independence and productivity according to his or her current choices."

The Occupational Therapy Department at JIRDC has four OTR positions and seven OT Assistant positions. Each is a member of 2-3 home teams, and serves approximately 30 – 50 people. In addition to providing services to homes and 3 Learning Centers, OT staff are members of special teams, including, Exceptional Equestrians, Dysphagia, and Assistive Technology.

Referral, Evaluation and Treatment

Occupational therapists and assistants provide individual and group services based on identified needs of our JIRDC home teams. Evaluation and therapy services are provided in the following areas of daily living:

Mealtime: Eating problems, meal preparation, positioning, use of utensils, adaptive equipment, oral defensiveness, mealtime skills training

Self Care: Adaptation of clothing, grooming, bathing, personal hygiene, positioning for self care, manipulation of self care items,

Community Living Skills: Access to environments, use of doors, switches, use of key, holding and using money, use of kitchen equipment, cooking training, use of leisure items, laundry and shopping skills

Vocational Skills: Work skills training, architectural barriers, endurance for work activity, proper positioning, manipulation of work materials, adaptation of job site, proper use of equipment, coordination and dexterity for job tasks

Occupational Performance components

Occupational Therapy staff also provide treatment for the underlying components required for purposeful and meaningful activity. These include

· Muscle tone/ strengthening and range of motion, positioning, coordination, hand use, appropriate responses to touch or other stimuli, arousal to environment, relaxation/inhibition of the sensory systems, hand or arm splints to support proper positioning and prevent contractures.

· Changing or adapting the context in which an activity occurs

· Psycho-social factors that influence occupational performance

Educational Opportunities

The OT Department at JIRDC has an active student training program, serving and average of 6-12 college students per year. The Fieldwork Coordinator works closely with several state, regional and educational institutions to ensure OT students who are placed at JIRDC have an optimal learning experience.

Department staff also mentor local high school students who are interested in becoming occupational therapists or assistants. For more information on student training, contact Angela Landry, OTR/L at  (828-438-6569)

How to contact our occupational therapy staff: