I have a new kid on my schedule who is nonverbal, has autism, does not follow 1-step instructions or engage in any joint attention tasks, and is almost 7. I did his evaluation and he spent the whole thing trying to walk out the door and open the windows. Now he's going on my schedule and I'm worried to treat him solo. Is it reasonable to request the parent come back with me for safety reasons? Any other tips for making sure this kid stays safe?

Hey, i’m currently in my nursing graduate year and i’m finding that i hate nursing. I know nursing has a lot of job opportunities etc but the level of stress and anxiety i’m dealing with because of the job, i no longer want to pursue it. I have been thinking about applying to OT next year. OT sounds appealing to me because of : no shift work, decent pay, less stress ? , still being able to help people etc. I want to hear from OTs and want to know what their day looks like as an Aus OT. Do you think in comparison, it is a less stressful job ?

Not for me but my husband as he doesn’t have Reddit. He just found out he failed his 6th attempt by 6 points. His previous scores have been 417, 448 (this was brutal), 439, 440, 436, and 444. His morale is in the toilet and he’s thinking about not taking it anymore. I’ve never seen someone be so studious about taking an exam. He’s purchased the packets, studied with many different OT’s young and old, completed tutoring lessons on test taking strategies, and just about anything else you can think of.

My heart breaks for him because he was to wait 6 months at this point, and financially it has/will be a strain on us. He knows this and he feels as though he is failing our family (we have a 5 month old) because of his scores. He’s working as a therapy aide and has been for the last 5 years so he’s in the field and surrounded by the practice. I’m just at a loss what to do for him. I’m more looking for support and want to show him that he isn’t alone in this boat and it’s happened to others as well. Thanks all for listening.

*I just posted this in NBCOT exam group so this may look familiar to some. I didn’t realize there was an OT Reddit when I posted.

I'm just curious if any of you, throughout your career, suffered an injury as a direct result of being an OT?

I have worked in a middle school for Autistic children for a few years and I have had students with low vision, but I now have a student who has total blindness. My own experience tells me work on tactile discrimination, fine motor skills, and proprioceptive activities, but the student throws everything he gets his hands on. He does not wait for instruction and it does not matter what it is. I believe he likes to hear the items when they hit the floor. He loves music. He has no OT goals in his IEP and hasn't had an OT in school for years. I want to call his parents, but I feel like if I call now I'll just make a fool of myself, since I cannot think of what to do. His last session was a fiasco. I tried to have him push buttons through a hole, put large beads on a pipe cleaner, squeeze clothespins. However, it was all hand over hand and most of that was just trying to keep him from throwing items. He also has no grading of movements and no spatial awareness of his body most likely because he is blind. I have access to a small sensory room with a tunnel, swing, and various exercise balls. I would love some ideas on treatment and activities.

I’m an autistic adult looking to get some help from an OT. Unfortunately, there are none near me who specialize in autism, take my insurance, AND treat adults. But I did find some from farther away that are licensed in my state, DO treat adults, and take my insurance.

But I’m a bit concerned over whether it would be a waste of time and money. How does OT generally work over zoom? I only had OT a few times as a teenager when I was first diagnosed, and it was HEAVILY based on physicality, especially the evaluation, having me press and pull things, play and climb on equipment, testing my strength, them seeing the clothes I found safe and unsafe, etc.

Obviously as an adult I wouldn’t expect to be playing on a play set (no matter how much I’d love to lol), but I assumed there’d be some amount of them showing me things, pressing things, then physically feeling my body’s reaction to different stimuli, etc.. Am I wrong? Surely these places wouldn’t offer virtual OT if it didn’t work?

I reached out to a few of those virtual ones asking how their virtual visits work, but I’ve been waiting for a response for a week. I thought I’d ask here before I get any hopes up.

As for what I’d hope to work with them on, in case this determines whether virtual could work, my main goals would be for them to help me understand my sensory needs better, and find healthier ways to manage them. Currently I have a lot of chronic health issues that stem from my muscles being constantly clenched, and the clenching is an unconscious response to under/overstimulation. Physical therapy has taught me the tricks to relax the muscles, but they ALWAYS tighten up again because my senses get overwhelmed. My clenching is basically my body’s shell to protect itself from all the bad stimuli around me, I’d really like to work with someone to find or learn about healthier shells!

Oh also, would having an in-person evaluation but then only virtual follow-ups be better? I might be able to swing getting to these offices once, I just couldn’t go IRL regularly

I’m looking for recommendations for a qualified Occupational Therapist in the Sydney area with experience in psychosocial functional assessments and health-related housing needs.

Ideally, the OT would have experience assessing how health-related functional needs affect accommodation suitability and preparing comprehensive written reports for formal assessment purposes.

This is not primarily a request for physical home modifications.

If you know an OT with relevant experience, I would appreciate recommendations or feedback on their services, fees and availability. Please feel free to message me privately.

Thank you.

Hello! I’m looking for sites where people have been placed for a psychosocial FW II in Sacramento, CA that are not peds related. My fieldwork coordinator has asked me for site leads and honestly, I’m not super familiar with the area. I’m wondering where other students from that area have been placed? I don’t have many peers in my cohort in the Sac area, and those who are have been placed in peds clinics. I’d really like the mental health experience, and I’ve googled mental health treatment centers but it’s hard to find out whether they have OT services or not :’) Since this is for my Lvl II, my fieldwork coordinator is really supposed to find this placement for me— so I’m not contacting anyone, just looking for names of facilities to float his way.
TIA!

Hi I’m looking into bridging my OTA to MOT! I graduated this may and feel passionate enough to continue my education into masters..the only issues I’m having is the cost of tuition 😭 I will be graduating with about 20 thousand for OTA and looking into some bridge programs in Ohio… any advice on how I can’t lower the cost in anyway? I’m willing to do anything to not be so much in debt 😭 also I heard it’s hard to get any scholarships for grad school? Anything anyone has done or applied/ worked that could help let me know!! Thank you.

Hi OTs, what do you typically recommend for grab bars beside a toilet or for getting on/off a bath seat?

Horizontal, diagonal, or L shape?

And what size?

I know it depends on the client etc but im always second guessing myself and its driving me crazy.

Thanks for your help!

I’m hoping to hear from people who work in either field because I am SO torn between becoming a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) or an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)!

I’m 36, a mom of two kiddos (12 and 10), and looking to make a career change. I worked as a surgical technologist, but I’ve been out of the field for almost five years now. My husband’s job financially supports our family, so thankfully, I have some flexibility when it comes to going back to school. However, I want to find a career that I genuinely enjoy, gives me a sense of purpose, and allows me to balance work and family life.

Here’s where I’m stuck:

SLPA: My son received speech therapy from ages 2–10, so this field holds a very special place in my heart. I’ve seen firsthand how much of a difference speech therapy can make in a child’s life, and that experience has definitely influenced my interest in this career. I’ve also talked to friends who are SLPs, and they absolutely love what they do! However, I have no intention of pursuing a master’s degree right now, so becoming an actual SLP isn’t part of my current plan. In Texas, becoming an SLPA requires a bachelor’s degree.

OTA: I also really love the field of occupational therapy! I’m drawn to the idea of helping people develop skills, gain their independence, and improve their quality of life. The biggest appeal is that, at least for now, the educational path in Texas is an associate degree rather than a bachelor’s, which could mean less time and money spent in school.

My biggest questions are:

ROI: Which career offers the better return on investment when you factor in tuition, time in school, and earning potential?
Work-life balance: Which field offers more flexibility and a schedule that works well for a mom with school-aged kids?
Job satisfaction: What do you love and dislike about your job? Do you ever regret choosing your field?
Job opportunities: How difficult is it to find a job in Texas, particularly in the San Antonio area?
Long-term growth: Are there opportunities to increase your income or advance without going back to school for a master’s degree?

I know both careers can be rewarding, and I realize the day-to-day work is very different. I’m not necessarily looking for the career that pays the most, but I do want to make a smart investment in my education and future.

I’d especially love to hear from people who have worked as SLPAs or OTAs for several years, parents working in either field, or anyone who has made a similar career change in their 30s.

I’d really appreciate any honest advice, experiences, or things you wish you had known before entering either profession.

Hello! I’m an occupational therapy student and I wanted to ask if there are any OTs who provide vestibular rehabilitation to clients in their practice! I am working on an assignment and I would love to learn more about how it is applied in practice, the rationale behind providing vestibular rehab, and the results/prognosis of the treatment!

Please let me know if you do and are available for an online interview on Zoom or even a call! I would very much appreciate it!☺️

Hi I am looking to take a travel OT contract starting in January and would love to go somewhere with warmer weather! I love small-town vibes, pretty scenery, and being somewhere with lots of outdoor activities to explore. I’m pretty open to any state, so I’d love to hear where you’ve had good experiences traveling during the winter months. What states or specific areas would you recommend? Bonus points for cute towns, beautiful scenery, and relatively affordable cost of living! 😊

Hello everyone!

I’m currently a fourth-year Occupational Therapy student, due to graduate next year, and I was wondering if anyone could share their personal experiences or those of other OTs they know who have visible tattoos.

Have you found that having visible tattoos has had any impact on job opportunities, patient interactions, or how you’re perceived in the workplace?

I’m considering getting a tattoo on my inner bicep, which may be visible depending on what I’m wearing, so I’d really appreciate hearing people’s experiences, particularly within OT or other healthcare settings. Obviously, it would be nothing offensive!

Edit
Thank you everyone for your replies! It’s been so helpful, I think I was just a bit worried because no one in my cohort has any visible tattoos and none of my practice educators had any visible tattoos and one of my practice educator had issues with some of my ear piercings (not a nice lady) so i think it made me a bit more paranoid.

I think I am going to go ahead with getting the tattoo!(it’s not my first one but it would be my only visible one !)

Hi all!

I am an OT student looking for information of how paeds + school-based OTs have helped parents feel comfortable with sending their child, with a disability, to school.

In the project I have been assigned, the child is non-verbal, uses a wheelchair and is G-tube fed (but is given thickened fluids + purred foods for pleasure).

If you have any resources or recommendations or past-experiences with this, I would love to hear more!

i just applied for the MOT program at Governors State University. anyone with previous experience there or words of advice? itching to hear back about an interview.

Can anyone give me their experience and how they liked the OT program at CBD College. I am a working Mom of two toddlers, 33 years old looking to get into this so I can have a better future for my kiddos. I've worked in hands on care for 12 years so I truly enjoy helping others.
The hybrid and schedule here is awesome for my lifestyle
I'm just nervous about the student loans seeing the number as a whole and going to a trade school in general as I've never done anything like this. I want to hear about experiences - the good and the bad- esp after graduating. Thank you.

Question for Previous Stanbridge MSOT Cohorts: Exit Exams and OTKE Remediation
I’m hoping to hear from students and graduates from previous Stanbridge MSOT cohorts about their experiences with the term exit exams, program exit exams, and OTKE remediation.
1. In your cohort, how many students initially failed an exit exam or OTKE, and approximately how many failed the remediation?
2. Were students allowed multiple remediation attempts, or were you limited to one attempt?
3. Did your cohort experience changes in exam difficulty, passing standards, or remediation requirements?
4. Did students who needed multiple attempts eventually graduate/ walk with their original cohort, or were they delayed?

I’m especially interested in hearing from graduates who completed the program, since policies and testing requirements may have changed.
I understand that every cohort may have had a different experience. I’m simply hoping to compare experiences and better understand when these changes occurred. If you’re comfortable sharing, please comment below or message me privately. Thank you!

Please share your very good OT experience as a solo founder and employee.

I am trying to find an inspiration for future decision.

Hi I am a current OT student. I am currently in my last semester in OT school. One of the courses that the school has us enrolled in is an NBCOT prep course. Our school paid for us to have TrueLearn and Therapy ED books specifically for this course. In this course, we have a midterm and a final through the NBCOT website practice tests that were paid for by the school. In the class itself nothing is really taught and flash cards are just handed out in class. Every week we do a quiz through TrueLearn where I averaged getting a 71. Today was the midterm and I got a 410. One of my good friends passed the exam getting in the 470s but no one else has disclosed their grade on the midterm. I am kinda beating myself up about it mentally just cause I feel a bit inadequate and I have self doubts that I will even pass this final which is the main requirement to pass the course while also balancing the other school work I have for my other classes. I bought myself the NBCOT study pack today and I plan on getting 450 formula in November in hopes of improving my score. Does anyone have any words of wisdom for me or have gone through a similar experience that they can share with me? Any advice or experiences are greatly appreciated as I continue to embark on my future OT Journey.

Hi! I was wondering what your thoughts are woth community OT work. I have just tried working in a clinic but I do have some offsite clients, but I am sure it is quite different from community work.