History and Development of Occupational Therapy

Neelima  Punithan

History and Development of Occupational TherapyChapter 1

WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?

This question arises quite often and we start thinking and correlating occupation with therapy.

WHAT IS OCCUPATION?

Occupation is a life giving staple and it engages a person towards the action that help them build their lives, it is as necessary to life as food and drink that every human being should have both physical and mental occupation to lead healthy and productive life.

WHAT IS THERAPY?

Therapy is a treatment of physical and mental disorders.

After knowing the meaning of occupation and therapy now we know that occupation in occupational therapy refers to all the activities that occupies people time and give meaning to their lives.

Occupational therapy otherwise called ergomedicine (ergo=work). It is a branch of medicine which deals with the treatment of patients who are physically and mentally impaired, disabled or handicapped temporarily or permanently.

The American pioneers of occupational therapy came from variety of professions. They include psychiatrist (Adolf Mayer and William Rush Dunton), a doctor (Herbert Hall), a nurse (Susan Tracy), a teacher of design (Susan Cox Johnson) a social worker (Eleanor Clark Slagle) and two architect (George Barton and Thomas Bessele Kidner).

Occupational therapy primarily deals with the development and maintenance of individual capacities to achieve complete independence in his day to day activities, meet his environmental demands and lead a productive and satisfying independent life with self confidence.

Occupational therapist can modify or alter the environment or make special gadgets, so that patients can achieve maximum functional independence. As per the Rogers “Occupation is the medium of therapy and that occupational therapists need to understand the health enhancing nature of occupation”.

The profession was founded in Clifter Springs, New York on March 15, 1917- named as National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy (NSPOT) later named as American Occupational Therapy Association in 1921.

HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

International History

Profession was started much before 1700 many people have contributed to its development but few those who have made remarkable contributions are mentioned below.

1700	Phillipe Pinel who was a physician in France he has introduced work treatment for insane and used physical exercises, work, music, literature as treatment modality. Samuel Tuke has treated patients with kindness and considerations, family atmosphere was created.
1800	Moral treatment practice Benjamin Rush suggested structured activities that stimulated a more normal life for asylum inmates.
1890	Rise of art and craft movement Industrial revolution in America has caused monotonous life, industrial accidents, sever polio epidemics; John Ruskin, an English philosopher and William Morries a student of John Ruskin promoted and popularized the concept of art and craft movement. They believe to improve physical and mental health through exercise and satisfaction gained from creating a useful or decorative articles with one's own hand.
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1904	Herbert Hall Physician who has introduced work cure- to improve health and financial independence of invalid patients.
1912	Eleanor Clarke Slagle who was social worker and started habit training.
1914	George Edward Barton used occupation as a method of treatment; he was architect has opened consolation house in Clifton Spring New York. He has coined the term occupational therapy.
1910–1915	William Rush Dunton—Psychiatrist—considered the father of occupational therapy, used simple activities which can be used in adapting treatment of patient has written first textbook on occupational therapy.
1917	Susan Tracy-Nurse used art and craft for invalid patients. She has written a book Invalid Occupations. National Society for Promotion of Occupational Therapy was founded and occupational therapy formally begin with the first meeting of National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy. Adolf Mayer formed the philosophical base of profession. After World War I orthopedician and occupation therapist were involved in rehabilitation of soldiers who became disabled in the war and reconstruction hospitals were established and civilian women were given training through short war emergency courses. These women used therapeutic activities to treat orthopedic, neurological conditions and stress disorders. Rapid growth of occupational therapy for physical dysfunction seen. Department of occupational therapy was established at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington DC and was under the psychologist Bird T Baldwin. After World War I profession decline in physical 5dysfunction while practice in mental health and psychiatry continues.
1920	By this time the profession has adapted name occupational therapy.
1923	The National Society for the Promotion of Occupational therapy changed its name to American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) has become increasingly involved with establishing educational standards, recognizing qualified trainees and publishing articles of interest to occupational therapy.
1925	First American trained OT employed in UK in Aberdeen.
1930	Great depression years—many occupational therapy clinics and schools were closed, typical case load includes fractures, residual hand disabilities, tuberculosis and poliomyelitis. Occupational therapist sought alliance with American Medical Association (AMA) to establish standards for training institutions and to accredit each new school and profession became a Medical Auxiliary. Philosophy from holistic to reductionistic (Scientific Process of understanding function by analyzing small discrete part).
1932	Scottish Association of Occupational Therapy founded.
1936	English Association of Occupational Therapy founded.
1938	British Journal of Occupational Therapy first published.
1940	Ephasis was placed on acquiring clinical skills such as Progressive resistive exercises, neuromuscular facilitation activities of daily living, prosthetic training and fabrication of orthosis. Therapist became proficient in use of variety of treatment techniques rather original humanistic approach.
1947	Text of occupational therapy was written “Willard and Spacksman's Principles of Occupational Therapy”.
1952	World Federation of Occupational Therapy founded.
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1960	Profession is defined and organize itself around occupational performance dysfunction.
1970	Medicare defined occupational therapy as medically prescribed treatment. Occupational therapy services were available to private homes, public schools, nursing homes, community mental health centers and at work places.
1974	Scottish and English Association of OT combine to form British Association of Occupational Therapy.
1975	Education for all handicapped children policy increased pediatric practice within education rather than medical setting.
1984	Biomechanical and sensory motor frames of references and developed guidelines and criteria for when to use biomechanical and sensory motor activities and when to incorporate purposeful activities into the treatment plan.
1992	AOTA's representative assembly approved a physical agent modalities. The use of physical agent modalities in occupational therapy is appropriate only in preparation for or an adjunct to purposeful activity to enhance occupational performance.

WORLD FEDERATION OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST (WFOT)

The key international representative for occupational therapist and occupational therapy around the world and the official international organization for promotion of OT. It began with formal discussion at the meeting of occupational therapist held in England in June

1951–1952	It was inaugurated on 7/4/1952 and MS Helan Willard of USA served as temporary chair person until the officers were elected. 1st President – Margrate Fulton of Scotland.
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1954	Mrs Kamala V Nimkar pioneer of OT profession in Asia attended the WFOT first council meeting at Edinburg, as Indian delegate.
1959	WFOT was admitted into official relations with the World Health Organization.
1963	WFOT was recognized as Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) by the United Nations (UN).

FUNCTIONS OF WFOT

To promote development of occupational therapy and safe guard professional standards.
To hold international congress indifferent countries in every 4 years.
To promote international co-operation among occupational therapy association.
To maintain ethics of the profession and to advance the practice and standards of OT.
To promote internationally recognized standard of education of occupational therapy and has authority to update occupational therapy syllabus and curriculum worldwide.
Facilitate international exchange and placement of therapist and students.
To involve in matters where occupational therapy expertise can contribute to policymaking in general.

THE PROGRAM AREAS OF WFOT

Five program areas are:

Education and research
Promotion and development
Executive program
International cooperation
Standards and quality.

Duties of member countries

Increase effective practice of OT
Safeguard standards
Appoint delegates and therapists.
Submit annual report to federation.

HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN INDIA

Occupational therapy was brought to Asia in general and India to specific by Late Mrs Kamala V Nimkar (Nee Elizabeth Lundy) an American Lady who married an Indian industrialist did the pioneering work in establishing the occupational therapy in clinical field and in education.

1949	Kamala V Nimkar worked at KEM Hospital Bombay.
1950	1st November the first OT school was started at Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai by Kamala V Nimkar.
1952	All India Occupational Therapist Association was formed and Kamala V Nimbkar was first president and found council member of WFOT.
1957	Mrs MM Sahani led the OT school at KEM Hospital, Mumbai after Mrs Nimkar's retirement.
1958	School of Occupational Therapy at Govt. Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur was started by Kamala V Nimkar, Diploma in Occupational Therapy – 2 years duration.
1960	Department of Occupational Therapy, National Institute for Physically Handicapped started at New Delhi.
1963	Government Medical College, Nagpur, graduate program started.
1966	Bihar College of OT and PT at Patna, Bihar started Diploma in OT.
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1967	Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai started BSc OT 2½ years duration.
1969	Department of Occupational Therapy, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu.
1978	St GS Medical College, Mumbai 3½ years BOT course started.
1980	Government Medical College, Nagpur started BOT degree – 3½ years.
1982	OT Department CMC, Vellore – BSc OT 3 years
1984	Department of Occupational Therapy, National Institute for Orthopedically Handicapped, Kolkata (West Bengal).
1987	National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research, SV Nirthar, Cuttack (Orissa). Government Medical College, Nagpur upgraded degree course 4 years.
1990	TN Medical College and Nair Hospital, Mumbai. National Institute of Orthopedically Handicapped, Kolkata — 3½ Years LTM Medical College, Mumbai.
1993	Government Medical College, Nagpur made under graduation into 4½ years duration. Masters of OT by research at Government Medical College Nagpur.
1994	Santhosh College of OT, Chennai started 3½ years. Institute of Physically Handicapped, New Delhi started 3½ years BSc OT(hons). Manipal College of Allied Health Science started BOT. — 4½ years duration.
1996	SRM College of OT started.
1998	Kovai Medical Centre – OT Department - Coimbatore 4½ years. Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai 4½ years BSc OT. Santhosh Medical College, Ghaziabad 4½ years.
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	Santhosh College of OT – 4½ years Meenakshi College of OT – Chennai Saveetha College of OT – Chennai
2000	Padmasri DY Patil College of OT Masik Maharastra BOT – 4½ duration.
2001	Padmashri Dr DY Patil Medical College, Navi Mumbai – BOT 4½ years duration. Jamia Hamdard – New Delhi started BOT duration 4½ years. Indore Institute of Medical Sciences started BOT 4½ years duration.
2006	PhD in OT at Government Medical College, Nagpur.
2007	PhD Programme at Nasik University

There are almost 14 schools which are accreded by All India Occupational Therapist Association and World Federation of Occupational Therapist.

ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT

1958	Diploma in Occupational Therapy
1967	Two years diploma course got affiliated to Bombay University.
1979	The first masters program started at the University of Mumbai.
2006	PhD program at Government Medical College, Nagpur.

ALL INDIA OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST ASSOCIATION (AIOTA)

In 1952	All India Occupation Therapist Association was formed by Mrs Kamala V Nimkar the 1st President of AIOTA till 1959. AIOTA became founder council member of WFOT.
1953	1st conference of AIOTA was held in Mumbai.
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1955	29th June the AIOTA was registered under the Mumbai Public Trust Act, 1950.
1958	Indian Journal of OT was registered under the Press and Registration of Book Act, 1867.
1983	The AIOTA formulated the Academic Council of Occupational Therapy (ACOT).
1984	AIOTA started “Fellow of the Academic Council of OT Award”(FACOT).
1997	Academic council of AIOTA formed special interest group to foster research work and to assess cross cultural influence on disability.
2002	Golden Jubilee Year of AIOTA Launched website – www.aiota.org

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF AIOTA

Recognized as an official professional organization representing occupational therapists in India.
Responsible for up holding the rules and regulations of WFOT in India and for maintaining an Academic Standards of OT school program in country.
Promote and maintain individual professional membership of AIOTA.
Organizing conferences and election of governing committee and sub-committee.
Provides an representative for WFOT in international assembly.
Publishing the official journal of occupational therapy in India called “Indian Journal of Occupational Therapy”.

Chapter Notes

History and Development of Occupational TherapyChapter 1