[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 58 (Thursday, May 5, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E894]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 5, 2005

  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, just last week, our nation 
recognized April as Occupational Therapy Month. Occupational therapy is 
a health, education, wellness, and rehabilitation service that helps 
individuals engage in everyday activities, or ``occupations.'' More 
than 100,000 licensed occupational therapists and occupational therapy 
assistants provide services to children and adults in a variety of 
settings across the nation, including 766 in my home state of Rhode 
Island. Services are provided by qualified professionals whose training 
includes anatomy and physiology, sociology, and psychology, including 
how disability affects an individual's ability to develop ``skills for 
the job of living.''
  Occupational therapy focuses on performance of meaningful daily life 
activities, such as education, work, play, leisure, and social 
participation, despite impairments or limitations in physical or mental 
functioning. Occupational therapy not only helps children with 
disabilities to learn in school, but, also assists adults recovering 
from stroke to lead full and productive lives.
  With its roots in mental health, occupational therapy focuses on the 
relationship between the client and their performance abilities, the 
demands of the activity, and the physical and social contexts within 
which the activity is performed. An individuals' performance is 
evaluated through their psychological, social, and emotional responses, 
which assists the therapist in implementing specific treatments to 
address the patients current needs and problems. Occupational therapy 
was recently profiled by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration (SAMHSA) on its National Mental Health Information 
Center's website.
  I am pleased to recognize the importance of occupational therapy and 
the valuable service that it provides for millions of individuals and 
families.

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