Occupational therapy was founded in 1917 by individuals who sought the humane treatment of people in mental health wards. This happened in a little town in upstate NY, Clifton Springs. George Edward Barton, Eleanor Clarke Slagle, William Rush Dunton, Jr., Susan Cox Johnson, Thomas Bessell Kidner, and Isabel Gladwin Newton Barton pioneered what is now known as occupational therapy.
Patients with mental health issues were released from restraints and encouraged to participate in tasks to “occupy” their hands and minds, instead of being left in chairs, or beds with little to no purposeful interaction or meaning, other than to be fed, medicated, and placated. These patients were suddenly now engaged with arts and crafts (basket weaving, knitting, jewelry making, rug weaving), vocational activities (sewing gardening, print making), recreational arts (music therapy, painting), and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, or “IADLs” (laundry, cleaning, gardening). This was to give their lives more purpose, meaning, and would eventually be geared towards their independence.
Since these beginnings in the mental health arena, there have been many areas where occupational therapists have added value to people’s lives; the core uniting theme being to help them engage in meaningful and purposeful activities. Whether this is a return to independent living after a physical injury such as a stroke, spinal cord injury, or any other injury, helping children improve sensory processing and integration, visual-motor and fine motor skills for children and adults, working with assistive technology, learning to drive, trauma informed approaches in the holistic realm, pelvic floor therapy, return to participating in arts, crafts, and other leisure activities, yoga practices, and even using Reiki–the focus is person-centered and supports meaningful independence. All of this is addressed while honoring the cultural, spiritual/religious beliefs and values of the individuals that we support.
There is really no limit the creativity we can bring into any setting as occupational therapists. I value the initial instincts that drove the founders to create the field of occupational therapy: providing humane treatment to people that had been “written off” by most of society. I also love seeing how many diverse areas our field is branching into. We continue, at AboutPlay, to stay updated with new information relevant to our scope of practice, and how to apply it in meaningful and creative ways to support our children and families. Thank you for being a part of it all with us–it truly is an honor for us to serve our community.
Kate Drummond, OTR/L
Kate received her degree in Occupational Therapy in January 1997 from Keuka College, New York. Kate has worked in hospitals (adult and pediatric) including Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, outpatient clinics, and in the natural environment. Kate started AboutPlay in 2003. She is an intuitive empath, and has always had a passion for holistic healing. She has trained in a number of holistic clinical modalities including aromatherapy, reflexology, meditation, and yoga.
