Important People in Occupational Therapy
Eleanor Clark Slagle
Eleanor Clark Slagle is known as the "mother of Occupational Therapy." With a degree in social work, she went to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD in 1912 and and began directing the department of occupational therapy. She opened the first professional school for occupational therapy. She served as the secretary of AOTA for 15 years, and used habit training to help mentally ill patients engage in structured occupations.
Dr. William Rush Dunton Jr.
Dr. William Rush Dunton Jr. is know as the "father of OT." He was a psychiatrist and educator who published the first account of the Occupational Therapy profession. He attended Harvard and UPenn medical school. He witnessed the healing potential of Occupational Therapy, published a manual for nurses on how OT should be utilized in 1915, and used quilt making in his practices. His articles are cited in Occupational Therapy textbooks and he traced Occupational Therapy back to philosophical movement. He started NSPOT.
Dorothy Dix
Dorothy Dix was the first woman to graduate from medical school. She founded thirty two mental hospitals and was a strong reformer who acted in changing the horrible conditions found in mental hospitals. These mental hospitals were reformed into state owned, operated, and regulated facilities for mentally ill patients.
Phillippe Pinel
Phillipe Pinel was a French physician who was co-responsible for the development of the theory of moral treatment. He opened the Friends Asylum in 1796 with William Tuke, which was designed for the humane treatment of mentally ill people. There were craft shops, places for recreational activity, and gardens.
William Tuke
William Tuke was an English Quaker who was co-responsible for the development of the theory of moral treatment. He opened the Friends Asylum in 1796 with Phillippe Pinel, which was designed for the humane treatment of mentally ill people. There were craft shops, places for recreational activity, and gardens.
Susan Tracy
Susan Tracy was a nurse who was involved in the work therapy movement, which valued Occupational Therapy techniques and taught them to nursing students regularly. She noticed that occupation helped to relieve nervous tension and made things more tolerable.
Adolf Meyer
Adolf Meyer was the head of the first Occupational Therapy department, which was in Baltimore, MD. He thought that mental illness was a problem of adoption, habitat deterioration, and lack of balance of work and play. He thought that engagement in occupations were pleasurable, educational, and creative.
Dr. Herbert Hall
Dr. Herbert Hall was a physician who did research a population of neurologically impaired people. He studied the theraputic effects of using arts and crafts with this group of people. He was the president of the National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy for twenty years.
Susan Johnson
Susan Johnson was a member of the National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy and was an educational Occupational Therapist. She lectured at Columbia Teachers College and was a strong advocate for using crafts in Occupational Therapy to redirect thoughts, strengthen bodies, and regain self confidence.
Thomas Kinder
Thomas Kinder was a member of the first National Society for the Promotion of Occupatioinal Therapy and was an architect. He was a past president of AOTA and allowed soldiers to re-cooperate to work and learn a new trade.
Eleanor Clark Slagle is known as the "mother of Occupational Therapy." With a degree in social work, she went to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD in 1912 and and began directing the department of occupational therapy. She opened the first professional school for occupational therapy. She served as the secretary of AOTA for 15 years, and used habit training to help mentally ill patients engage in structured occupations.
Dr. William Rush Dunton Jr.
Dr. William Rush Dunton Jr. is know as the "father of OT." He was a psychiatrist and educator who published the first account of the Occupational Therapy profession. He attended Harvard and UPenn medical school. He witnessed the healing potential of Occupational Therapy, published a manual for nurses on how OT should be utilized in 1915, and used quilt making in his practices. His articles are cited in Occupational Therapy textbooks and he traced Occupational Therapy back to philosophical movement. He started NSPOT.
Dorothy Dix
Dorothy Dix was the first woman to graduate from medical school. She founded thirty two mental hospitals and was a strong reformer who acted in changing the horrible conditions found in mental hospitals. These mental hospitals were reformed into state owned, operated, and regulated facilities for mentally ill patients.
Phillippe Pinel
Phillipe Pinel was a French physician who was co-responsible for the development of the theory of moral treatment. He opened the Friends Asylum in 1796 with William Tuke, which was designed for the humane treatment of mentally ill people. There were craft shops, places for recreational activity, and gardens.
William Tuke
William Tuke was an English Quaker who was co-responsible for the development of the theory of moral treatment. He opened the Friends Asylum in 1796 with Phillippe Pinel, which was designed for the humane treatment of mentally ill people. There were craft shops, places for recreational activity, and gardens.
Susan Tracy
Susan Tracy was a nurse who was involved in the work therapy movement, which valued Occupational Therapy techniques and taught them to nursing students regularly. She noticed that occupation helped to relieve nervous tension and made things more tolerable.
Adolf Meyer
Adolf Meyer was the head of the first Occupational Therapy department, which was in Baltimore, MD. He thought that mental illness was a problem of adoption, habitat deterioration, and lack of balance of work and play. He thought that engagement in occupations were pleasurable, educational, and creative.
Dr. Herbert Hall
Dr. Herbert Hall was a physician who did research a population of neurologically impaired people. He studied the theraputic effects of using arts and crafts with this group of people. He was the president of the National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy for twenty years.
Susan Johnson
Susan Johnson was a member of the National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy and was an educational Occupational Therapist. She lectured at Columbia Teachers College and was a strong advocate for using crafts in Occupational Therapy to redirect thoughts, strengthen bodies, and regain self confidence.
Thomas Kinder
Thomas Kinder was a member of the first National Society for the Promotion of Occupatioinal Therapy and was an architect. He was a past president of AOTA and allowed soldiers to re-cooperate to work and learn a new trade.
Important Movements in Occupational Therapy
Moral Treatment
In the 1990's, a humanitarian approach to treat individuals with mental illnesses was created. It focused on productive, creative, and recreational occupations. This was helpful for mentally ill patients to recover by engaging in typical activities such as daily routines and tasks. Mental illness was a problem of adoption, habitat deterioration, and lack of balance.
Work Therapy
Work therapy was created in 1904 by President Roosevelt. As the economy was getting better, monopolies were forming and mass production was helping prices go down. This was helping education to be taken more seriously. There were a lot of immigrants working in factories and laws about child labor were starting to be created. Segregation was getting worse. Work therapy gave people the ability to perform a task successfully and it helped their self esteem. Life can be enhanced by work that produces an end product.
World War I
During World War I, there were approximately 1200 nurses, artists, teachers, and craftswomen who cared for injured soldiers. They provided arts and crafts for the wounded men and that helped in the initial stages of recovery. It also helped to raise their spirits. There was a high demand for treatment and training of sick and wounded soldiers. The war helped society become aware of the benefits of Occupational Therapy.
National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy
The National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy was started on March 17, 1917 when five people came together in Clifton Springs, NY. This society was created from the moral treatment of people, scientific medicine, and arts and crafts. It also included social reform. The first official definition of OT was: "OT may be defined as an activity, mental or physical, definitely prescribed for the distinct purpose of contributing to and hastening recovery from disease or injury." (Dr. H. A. Patterson)
American Occupational Therapy Association
AOTA was founded on March 17, 1917 as the National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy. It was renamed AOTA in 1923. It is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to expanding and refining the knowledge base of Occupational Therapy. It provides support to research and education through grants and scholarships.
Great Depression
The Great Depression took place in the United States from 1929 through 1939. The stock market crashed, there was an unstable economy, and an uneven distribution of wealth. After people lost their jobs, they started to become anxious and depressed. Thousands of people were malnourished because there just was not enough food. The Red Cross called upon Occupational Therapists to help World War I veterans adjust to civilian life. Veterans who had been independent felt dependent and sought the help of Occupational Therapists.
World War II
World War II took place from 1939 until 1945. The United States entered the war in 1941. During the war, women started working more and OT services continued to grow. Military hospitals needed more Occupational Therapists than anywhere else in the country. In 1945 there were twenty one OT programs and 3224 Occupational Therapists. During WWII there was a higher survival rate, and over five million people needed care. There was more physical rehab services and less mental health services.
Rehabilitation Movement
During the Rehabilitation Movement, there were many injured veterans, which created a higher demand for trained personnel to focus on job related occupations and treat soldiers.
Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1943
The Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1943 was created to amend the vocational education acts of 1930 and 1936. This act allowed OT's to be paid to provide medical services. WWII and the rehabilitation movement helped the growth of the profession and helped increase public awareness of the benefits of Occupational Therapy.
Role of the COTA is established
A COTA is a certified occupational therapy assistant. COTAs were introduced to help with the high demands for an occupational therapist.
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was the first legislation that prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities. People with mental or physical disabilities have the right to live independently, make choices, pursue careers, enjoy self determination, and be involved in American society with equal opportunity, according to the National Confederation of the Blind. Occupational Therapy is part of the Community Rehabilitation program. This program is designed to facilitate the advancement of vocational rehab services to disabled peoples.
Education for all Handicapped Children Act of 1975
The Education for all Handicapped Children Act of 1975 has four parts. All children with disabilities can receive free public education. This education will be specialized for each unique need of every child. The rights of the children and parents will be protected. Children's education is effective through constant record keeping and analysis. This allows many educated children to be educated in neighborhood schools in regular classrooms with non-disabled peers. This act has caused an increase in graduation, college enrollment, and employment rates among disabled children.
Individual with Disabilities Education Act 1975
The Individual with Disabilities Education Act was enacted in 1975. It was amended in 1986 to include preschoolers. It was renamed in 1990. When this act was created, people were becoming more educated about disabilities and more accepting of people with disabilities. Schools were becoming more accommodating for students with disabilities. Occupational Therapists were brought into schools and practiced with people ages zero through twenty one. Additional services including assistive technology devices were being provided and increased focus and funds were being provided to programs for children with emotional disturbances.
Americans with Disabilities Act 1990
The Americans with Disabilities Act was created on July 29, 1990. It created equal opportunities for employment, local and state services, transportation, telecommunications and public accommodations for people with disabilities.
In the 1990's, a humanitarian approach to treat individuals with mental illnesses was created. It focused on productive, creative, and recreational occupations. This was helpful for mentally ill patients to recover by engaging in typical activities such as daily routines and tasks. Mental illness was a problem of adoption, habitat deterioration, and lack of balance.
Work Therapy
Work therapy was created in 1904 by President Roosevelt. As the economy was getting better, monopolies were forming and mass production was helping prices go down. This was helping education to be taken more seriously. There were a lot of immigrants working in factories and laws about child labor were starting to be created. Segregation was getting worse. Work therapy gave people the ability to perform a task successfully and it helped their self esteem. Life can be enhanced by work that produces an end product.
World War I
During World War I, there were approximately 1200 nurses, artists, teachers, and craftswomen who cared for injured soldiers. They provided arts and crafts for the wounded men and that helped in the initial stages of recovery. It also helped to raise their spirits. There was a high demand for treatment and training of sick and wounded soldiers. The war helped society become aware of the benefits of Occupational Therapy.
National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy
The National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy was started on March 17, 1917 when five people came together in Clifton Springs, NY. This society was created from the moral treatment of people, scientific medicine, and arts and crafts. It also included social reform. The first official definition of OT was: "OT may be defined as an activity, mental or physical, definitely prescribed for the distinct purpose of contributing to and hastening recovery from disease or injury." (Dr. H. A. Patterson)
American Occupational Therapy Association
AOTA was founded on March 17, 1917 as the National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy. It was renamed AOTA in 1923. It is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to expanding and refining the knowledge base of Occupational Therapy. It provides support to research and education through grants and scholarships.
Great Depression
The Great Depression took place in the United States from 1929 through 1939. The stock market crashed, there was an unstable economy, and an uneven distribution of wealth. After people lost their jobs, they started to become anxious and depressed. Thousands of people were malnourished because there just was not enough food. The Red Cross called upon Occupational Therapists to help World War I veterans adjust to civilian life. Veterans who had been independent felt dependent and sought the help of Occupational Therapists.
World War II
World War II took place from 1939 until 1945. The United States entered the war in 1941. During the war, women started working more and OT services continued to grow. Military hospitals needed more Occupational Therapists than anywhere else in the country. In 1945 there were twenty one OT programs and 3224 Occupational Therapists. During WWII there was a higher survival rate, and over five million people needed care. There was more physical rehab services and less mental health services.
Rehabilitation Movement
During the Rehabilitation Movement, there were many injured veterans, which created a higher demand for trained personnel to focus on job related occupations and treat soldiers.
Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1943
The Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1943 was created to amend the vocational education acts of 1930 and 1936. This act allowed OT's to be paid to provide medical services. WWII and the rehabilitation movement helped the growth of the profession and helped increase public awareness of the benefits of Occupational Therapy.
Role of the COTA is established
A COTA is a certified occupational therapy assistant. COTAs were introduced to help with the high demands for an occupational therapist.
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was the first legislation that prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities. People with mental or physical disabilities have the right to live independently, make choices, pursue careers, enjoy self determination, and be involved in American society with equal opportunity, according to the National Confederation of the Blind. Occupational Therapy is part of the Community Rehabilitation program. This program is designed to facilitate the advancement of vocational rehab services to disabled peoples.
Education for all Handicapped Children Act of 1975
The Education for all Handicapped Children Act of 1975 has four parts. All children with disabilities can receive free public education. This education will be specialized for each unique need of every child. The rights of the children and parents will be protected. Children's education is effective through constant record keeping and analysis. This allows many educated children to be educated in neighborhood schools in regular classrooms with non-disabled peers. This act has caused an increase in graduation, college enrollment, and employment rates among disabled children.
Individual with Disabilities Education Act 1975
The Individual with Disabilities Education Act was enacted in 1975. It was amended in 1986 to include preschoolers. It was renamed in 1990. When this act was created, people were becoming more educated about disabilities and more accepting of people with disabilities. Schools were becoming more accommodating for students with disabilities. Occupational Therapists were brought into schools and practiced with people ages zero through twenty one. Additional services including assistive technology devices were being provided and increased focus and funds were being provided to programs for children with emotional disturbances.
Americans with Disabilities Act 1990
The Americans with Disabilities Act was created on July 29, 1990. It created equal opportunities for employment, local and state services, transportation, telecommunications and public accommodations for people with disabilities.
