Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants work with people with physical, developmental, and/or mental disabilities to help them achieve their goals of being as independent as possible in everyday activities or the “occupations” of life. Occupational therapy focuses on the areas of self-care, work, education, play, leisure, social participation, and rest and sleep. Occupational therapy practitioners collaborate with their clients to establish the clients’ goals. Based upon the goals of the client, the occupational therapy practitioner custom designs and implements a treatment plan to work towards these objectives. The ultimate goal of occupational therapy is for the client to participate at the highest level of independence possible, even in the presence of disability.

Occupational therapy practitioners work with people of all ages in a variety of settings including acute care hospitals, rehabilitation centers, school systems, mental health facilities, nursing homes, pediatric clinics, and home health. Examples of occupational therapy in action include helping a disabled homemaker relearn how to perform household tasks, teaching a child how to manipulate a toy, or helping an injured worker return to his/her job by improving hand strength and coordination.

A key component to the success of the occupational therapy process is the ability to establish rapport with the client. People best suited for this profession are those who genuinely like people and relate to both individuals and small groups. Occupational therapy is not a profession with a ready-made set of answers, and it requires the practitioner to be flexible, creative, and a good problem-solver.

What makes our Occupational Therapy programs unique?

Christian environment

Faculty

• The Occupational Therapy department faculty has a wide range of experience in many different clinical settings including pediatrics, skilled nursing, acute inpatient medical rehabilitation, outpatient, and home health. They have specialty training and hold certifications in a variety of treatment techniques. They are dedicated to scholarship and have published articles, contributed to published works, and created professional training videos. They are passionate about education and bringing their wide range of knowledge, skills, and experiences to the Adventist University students.
• OT Faculty
• OTA Faculty

Fieldwork

• Our fieldwork coordinator, Vicki Case, has worked tirelessly to secure over 200 clinical fieldwork opportunities in the Orlando and surrounding areas. The occupational therapy curriculums incorporate fieldwork opportunities that are above and beyond the requirements from the accrediting body for occupational therapy education in order to give the students a wide range of clinical experiences.
• The OTA student will experience 6 clinical rotations: 4 Level I’s and 2 Level II affiliations.
• The OT student will experience 8 clinical rotations: 6 Level I’s and 2 Level II affiliations.

Part of Florida Hospital

• Adventist University of Health Sciences is part of the Florida Hospital Health System which is a globally recognized medical center comprised of more than 350 healthcare facilities worldwide.

Our Facilities

Adventist University of Health Sciences is conveniently located on the downtown Orlando Florida Hospital Campus. Even though the University is in downtown Orlando, the University provides a spiritual and educational oasis for its students. It is nestled between Lake Winyah and Lake Estelle, and this beautiful site provides a peaceful and spiritual setting for learning and reflection.

The Occupational Therapy lab has been designed to simulate a typical occupational therapy clinic that is found in a variety of settings. The lab includes kitchen and bathroom areas, complete with adaptive equipment and devices commonly recommended for occupational therapy patients. In the lab, the student gains experience and comfort working in these environments with equipment and materials they will ultimately use in the clinical setting.