Think about the simple tasks in your daily routine—tying your shoes, taking a shower, or even preparing breakfast. For many of us, these activities happen effortlessly. But when these seemingly ordinary tasks become significant challenges, occupational therapists help you reclaim independence and restore meaning to your daily life.

This April, in honor of National Occupational Therapy Month, we’re celebrating the dedicated occupational therapists at Professional Therapy Services (PTS), who empower patients to reclaim their independence, confidence, and quality of life.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapy (OT) empowers people of all ages and abilities to participate fully in everyday life.  Occupational therapy addresses essential skills—like dressing independently and managing household tasks—but also enables individuals to fully engage in hobbies, leisure activities, and any roles they personally find meaningful.

How is Occupational Therapy Different from Physical Therapy?

Though occupational therapy and physical therapy may overlap in treatment methods, each has distinct objectives:

• Physical Therapy (PT) focuses on improving overall physical function, addressing pain, restoring mobility, and strengthening muscles and joints.
• Occupational Therapy (OT) emphasizes enabling individuals to perform meaningful occupations, enhancing self-sufficiency, and adapting environments or tasks to fit each person’s unique needs.

Who Benefits from Occupational Therapy?

OTs work with individuals across the lifespan—from infants to older adults—and partner with families to support development, recovery, and independence. They provide care in a variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, skilled nursing facilities, and patient homes, ensuring therapy is accessible wherever it’s needed most. According to Amanda Rhoades, OTR/L and Occupational Therapy Clinical Lead at PTS:

“Candidates for occupational therapy include adults who have experienced falls, stroke, MS, Parkinson’s, and traumatic brain injuries.”

Colleen James, OTR/L and Pediatric Outpatient Therapy Site Manager, notes

“When working with children, occupational therapists focus on building foundational skills for everyday life—supporting everything from fine motor development to sensory integration—so that each child can thrive at home, in school, and in play.”

Whether working with adults recovering from injury or helping children navigate sensory and developmental needs, occupational therapists share a common goal: to adapt tasks and environments to the individual, maximize physical performance, and promote meaningful participation in everyday life.

Real-Life Situations Where Occupational Therapy Makes a Difference:

• Helping someone safely transition home after a stroke or extended hospital stay—regaining independence in dressing, bathing, and meal preparation.
  
• Teaching the use of adaptive equipment, like specialized utensils, reachers, or mobility aids, to make everyday activities easier and safer.
  
• Providing caregiver and family training to support a loved one with dementia, physical disabilities, or developmental delays, ensuring success beyond the clinic.
  
• Supporting a child with sensory processing needs to better participate in classroom activities, playground interactions, and family routines.
  
• Guiding individuals recovering from upper body injuries or surgeries to regain strength, fine motor skills, and confidence in work and self-care tasks.

Celebrating Occupational Therapy Month by Giving Back: Community Partnerships That Make a Difference

At Professional Therapy Services, we believe that Occupational Therapy Month is not just about recognition—it’s about action. This year, we’re proud to celebrate by giving back to the communities we serve.

PTS is partnering with EP!C, a Peoria-based nonprofit dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Together, we’re working to break down barriers to independence by providing adaptive equipment to those who need it most.

Adaptive equipment—such as specialized utensils, reachers, and stabilization tools—is essential to OT interventions and can be life-changing for individuals working toward greater self-sufficiency. However, these tools can often be expensive or difficult to access. That’s why, throughout April, we are collecting donations at all PTS locations to help equip our OTs with the necessary tools our patients deserve.

By coming together as a therapy team and a community, we can help ensure that more individuals have the tools they need to live with dignity, independence, and joy.

Join us in celebrating Occupational Therapy Month by making a lasting impact—one adaptive tool, one patient, and one meaningful moment at a time.

Start Your Occupational Therapy Journey with PTS

You deserve extraordinary therapy! Using evidence-based care, we deliver the best outcomes in reasonable time frames. Start your journey with us today by scheduling a free initial screening – no physician referral required!