• What is the Prince Edward Island Occupational Therapy Society?
   
• What is Occupational Therapy?
   
• Qualifications of Occupational Therapists
   
• Who can Benefit from Occupational Therapy
   
• Where do Occupational Therapists Work on P.E.I.
   
• More Information on Careers in Occupational Therapy
   
• Society Executive Committee
   
• Contact the Society
   

What is the Prince Edward Island Occupational Therapy Society?

The Prince Edward Island Occupational Therapy Society is a provincial professional association representing occupational therapists in Prince Edward Island.

The Society promotes the occupational therapy profession, represents members' interests to health care decision-makers, connects members with each other and supports members’ professional development needs.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapists work with anyone to help maintain or improve their ability to participate in activities that are important to them. Occupational therapists view “occupation” as everything you do to occupy your day. This may include self-care activities (bathing, dressing, toileting, grooming, cooking), leisure activities (hobbies, sports, social activities), and productive activities (paid or unpaid work, housework, school).

Examples of how an occupational therapist can help their clients include:

• Adapting materials and/or equipment. For example, fabricating splints for clients that have arthritis or a repetitive strain injury
• Performing developmental assessments and providing recommendations to assist preschoolers in attaining age appropriate skills
• Teaching clients new ways of doing things. For example, teaching safe bathing and dressing following a back injury
• Teaching clients new ways to cope with stress. For example, through stress managementand assertiveness training
• Performing cognitive and perceptual assessments and developing retraining programs for clients followinga neurological event
• Making equipment and/or environmental recommendations to increase a client’s safety and independence in their home

Qualifications of Occupational Therapists:

In order to practice legally in Prince Edward Island, occupational therapists must have:

• a university education (many hold post-graduate degrees)
• completed a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised clinical fieldwork
• passed the national certification examination before they are eligible to practice
• registered with the Prince Edward Island Occupational Therapists Registration Board.

Who can Benefit from Occupational Therapy?

People of all ages who want to improve their day-to-day living skills (self-care, leisure, productivity) can benefit from occupational therapy. By increasing the client’s independence and sense of purpose the benefits of occupational therapy often extend to the clients family, friends and employers. Examples of health problems that may interfere with one’s day-to-day living skills include:

• Neurological events – i.e., spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke
• Mental health problems – i.e., depression, schizophrenia
• Accident injuries – i.e, motor vehicle or work related
• Childhood illnesses – i.e., autism, ADHD, chromosomal abnormalities, cerebral palsy, spina bifida
• Neurological conditions – i.e., parkinson's, muscular dystrophy, ALS, multiple sclerosis
• Orthopedic conditions – arthritis, low back pain, joint replacements
• Alcohol and substance abuse
• Cumulative trauma injuries – i.e., tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome
• Burns

Where do Occupational Therapists Work on P.E.I.?

Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings across all three counties in P.E.I. Some of these settings include:

• Acute care hospitals
• Rehabilitation programs
• Home care programs
• Long term care facilities
• Community mental health
• Private practice
• Administration
• Schools and/or daycares
• Workplaces
• Workers Compensation Board

More Information on Careers in Occupational Therapy?

Check out “careers” on www.caot.ca

Society Executive Committee:

The Prince Edward Island Occupational Therapy Society currently has a five member executive committee. This committee is a volunteer group of occupational therapists. The society could not operate without the dedicated support of it’s members.

Current members include:

• Dawna Woodside, Spokesperson
• Marilee Miller, Secretary
• Heather Cutcliffe, Treasurer
• Yvonne Thompson, Continuing Education
• Alida Love, CAOT Board Director

Contact the Society:

By Mail:

Prince Edward Island Occupational Therapy Society
PO Box 2248, Stn Central
Charlottetown, PEI
C1A 8B9

By E-mail:
dlwoodside@ihis.org (Dawna Woodside, Spokesperson)