Occupational Therapy Assistant, A.A.S.

DEGREE: ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE
DIVISION: ALLIED HEALTH

An occupational therapy assistant helps persons who are impaired due to injury or illness, emotional disorder, intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, or the aging process. The rehabilitation services administered by an Occupational Therapy Assistant are used to maximize ability, maintain health, and prevent disability. Specific tasks may include teaching or adapting daily living skills, enhancing functional performance with exercises or crafts, developing perceptual and/or motor skills, or enhancing social skills. Delgado’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-1220; (301) 652-2682.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is an Associate of Applied Science degree program, which accepts one class each year, starting in the fall semester and extending for four full-time daytime semesters. The program has limited enrollment. Prospective students should contact the Allied Health Admissions office to initiate application procedure. The deadline for application to the program is May 15.

To be eligible to apply to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
2. Successfully complete all prerequisite general education and required related courses.
3. Earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in all college courses.
4. Have completed a minimum of 30 clock hours of observation, volunteer or work experience in two different occupational therapy settings under the direct supervision of two different licensed occupational therapists. Additional hours are recommended.
5. Be able to meet program’s technical standards.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Associate of Applied Science program, the learner will be able to:

• Assimilate and apply the foundational content of human psychological, anatomical, and physiological principles, the basic tenets and theoretical perspectives of occupational therapy, and the fundamental application of occupational therapy assessment and treatment to achieve entry-level competence as an occupational therapy assistant (SLO # 1)
• Perform and modify technical and clinical skills related to observation, screening, evaluation, treatment planning, treatment implementation, and service delivery under the supervision of an occupational therapist to facilitate functional consumer outcomes that affect health, well-being, and quality of life (SLO # 2)
• Formulate effective and culturally sensitive verbal, nonverbal, and written communication strategies that demonstrate the ability to collaborate, inform, inquire, redirect, instruct, and influence consumers, caregivers, colleagues. employers, and policy makers (SLO # 3)
• Uphold the professional code of ethics, core values, standards of practice, responsibilities, and leadership behaviors as established for occupational therapy practitioners (SLO # 4)
• Exhibit sound judgement in the management and delivery of occupational therapy services to promote the safety of self, consumer, and workplace (SLO # 5)