Occupational therapy helps people improve their ability to perform tasks in living and working environments.

Occupational therapy practitioners work with individuals of all ages who have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling. They help individuals to develop, recover, or maintain daily living and working skills. Occupational therapy practitioners not only help individuals to improve basic motor functions and reasoning abilities, but also compensate for permanent loss of function.

Service to clients may include helping autistic children interact with other children in the classroom, working with stroke patients to help them master feeding and clothing themselves or suggesting memory aids and enlarged computer programs for seniors living in assisted living.

The goal of an occupational therapy practitioner is to help individuals have independent, productive, and satisfying lives.