Debi Hinerfeld, past president of the Georgia Occupational Therapy Association, and an occupational therapist for 22 years, is looking for a job.
Unlike many jobseekers in today’s market, her challenge isn’t finding an open position; it’s making a choice between the many opportunities that are available. Certified in sensory integration, she could continue to work with children in a school, health or private practice setting. She also could work for a community-based organization, as she did recently by serving on a council to help the city of Roswell adapt its facilities for people with disabilities.
“I’m also exploring the world of academia, because there’s a growing need for OT faculty, and Brenau University is about to offer its first postprofessional doctoral program. I’ve been shadowing a mentor and leading some classes to see how I like teaching,” said Hinerfeld, OTR/L.
She’s taking some time off to consider her next direction, but has no intention of leaving the profession she loves.
“Seeing people make progress in areas they may not have thought they could is very rewarding,” she said. “So much of what we do is practical common sense, but we can also think outside the box and collaborate to find solutions to make things better. My skills can be used in so many areas.”
Occupational therapists have more choices than ever. Jobs are expected to grow by 26 percent through 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The profession boomed in the 1990s, when occupational therapy was reimbursed by Medicare in skilled nursing facilities. When the Balanced Budget Act of 1998 reduced reimbursement, many facilities laid off OTs, forcing them to be creative in finding new jobs. The setback forced therapists to redefine the profession and move into new directions.
While many OTs work in traditional settings such as hospitals, schools, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities and in people’s homes, “we also provide services in community-based settings such as day treatment settings for substance abuse, in shelters for homeless people, in community health and wellness programs, and in work environments to promote ergonomics and prevent injury in the workplace,” Hinerfeld said.
The Response to Intervention method is a growth area within public schools. Occupational therapists are hired by school systems to observe classrooms and identify children with developmental delays or other learning challenges who could be helped at an early age.
Many OTs work with children who have been diagnosed with autism or physical or mental disabilities. On the opposite end of the age spectrum, some older adults need help with driving and adaptive devices or strategies to help them live better lives at home. It’s not so uncommon to find therapists certified as aging-in-place specialists, working with architects or builders to create home modifications for seniors.
In 2017, occupational therapy will celebrate its 100th anniversary.
“[The American Occupational Therapy Association’s] Centennial Vision states, ‘We envision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized, evidence-based profession, with a globally connected and diverse work force,’ ” Hinerfeld said. “That’s the goal we are working toward.”
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