Promote OT to young people, teachers, and careers advisors
Occupational Therapy Week is a useful prompt to contact local schools and colleges and offer to do a talk about a career in occupational therapy
You may want to include the pupils in some activities to make it more interactive. For example, if your audience are 9 or 10 year olds, salt dough modelling may be fun; if your audience are 14 year olds, a guess the gadget competitions may be more appropriate.
Message
Occupational therapy is a rewarding career.
Activities
Deliver a presentation on the work of an OT - take along equipment and do demonstrations with the students such as Guess the gadget competition. Alternatively;
- ask students to think how someone with a disability would do an activity e.g. someone with one arm polishing their shoes, and then provide an OT solution
- talk about career opportunities working in occupational therapy – outline your career and what you enjoy about being an OT
The following materials may be used at this event:
Download Careers Leaflet
Describes the benefits of becoming an occupational therapist.
Download Careers Handbook
Gives information about the potential a career in occupational therapy offers and provides advice on how to become an OT.
Download Careers poster
A rewarding career - help people to find solutions when daily activities become difficult
Make a difference - train to become an occupational therapist./p>
Merchandise to use at events
- Pens - with the message 'Occupational Therapy helping you to live life your way'
- Balloons - with the College logo
- Stickers - 'I support occupational therapy'
- Magnetic bookmarks - 'Occupational Therapy - helping you to live life your way'
- OT tattoos for children - branded with 'I love Occupational Therapy'
Order promotional materials from the College in advance of your events by emailing Jim.Waters@cot.co.uk
