Occupational Therapy Overview

Introduction to Occupational Therapy

• Discussion on the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy course
• Affiliated with Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University
• Duration: 4.5 years (4 years theory + 6 months internship)

Course Structure

• First Year:

  • General Anatomy
  • Physiology
  • Basic Occupational Therapy

• Second Year:

  • Health Medicine
  • Health Psychology
  • Forensic Psychology
  • General Medicine
  • Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy

• Third Year:

  • Clinical Orthopedics
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Community Medicine

• Fourth Year:

  • Pediatric Occupational Therapy
  • Cardiovascular Occupational Therapy
  • Work simplification techniques
  • Organization and administration skills
  • Indian project

Internship

• Six months with over 1,190 clinical hours
• Placement in hospitals for practical exposure in:
  • Pediatrics
  • Orthopedics
  • Neurology
  • Cardio-respiratory conditions

Opportunities and Growth in Occupational Therapy

• Increased awareness and demand due to the passing of the National Commission for Allied Health Professional Bill (March 2021)
  • Implementation expected in 2023
• Professionals can work in:
  • Primary care hospitals
  • Schools
  • Special schools
  • Disability sectors

Focus Areas in Occupational Therapy

• Dealing with conditions like:
  • Autism
  • ADHD
  • Learning disabilities
  • Sensory processing disorders
• Targeting neurodiverse populations, especially children

Educational Institutions and Recognition

• 25 colleges offering occupational therapy courses in Tamil Nadu
• Recognized by the World Federation of Occupational Therapy
• Regulated by the Association of Indian Occupational Therapy

Career Prospects

• Initial salary for fresh graduates:
  • More than ₹30,000 per month
• Increasing demand for occupational therapy professionals due to growing awareness

Conclusion

• Encouragement to join the course and develop professional skills in occupational therapy.