PSAT Writing and Language Practice Question 600

Question: 600

Occupational Therapy
When a child with developmental delay ties his shoes independently, an adult recovering from stroke returns to driving, 1 a teenager learns to use a power wheelchair following spinal cord injury, and an older adult stays in her home longer, an occupational therapist was part of 2 our care.
Occupational therapy began in the United States in 1917 with the establishment of the Society for the Promotion of Occupational 3 Therapy, now named, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Historically, AOTA stood for restorative properties of everyday, meaningful activity and occupational therapy 4 today is one of the fastest growing occupational categories in the United States.
Today, occupational therapy has grown into a science-driven and evidence-based practice that serves people across the lifespan. According to AOTA, occupation refers to the activities that people, populations, and organizations engage in, not necessarily a job. The areas of 5 occupations—or categories of ways people use their time—that an occupational therapist considers when working with clients include activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, rest and sleep, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation.
Newly licensed occupational therapists have a minimum of a four-year undergraduate degree and a two-year master's degree. 6 Many occupational therapists also have a doctorate. Occupational therapy assistants have a two-year associate's degree and work under the supervision of an occupational therapist. Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants work in a wide variety of settings, like hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, schools, home health, outpatient clinics, sports medicine, and private practice 7 alongside all types of healthcare practitioners.
In these settings, occupational therapists work with clients to help them better participate 8 in all the any of the areas of occupation. For example, in a school, an occupational therapist may help children learn to write. In hospitals, occupational therapists may make splints to prevent contracture in patients with burns. At an outpatient clinic, an occupational therapist might work with families to develop better sleep habits for their chil-dren. In sports medicine, occupational therapists often help golfers return to the links after rotator cuff surgery. In skilled nursing facilities, occupational therapists 9 taught older adults how to prevent falls and safely ambulate through their morning routines. If an activity occupies 10 their clients' time, it's something an occupational therapist can treat.
Fortunately for students considering careers, the job prospects for both occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants are excellent. In 2012, 113,200 people were employed as occupational therapists and 38,600 as occupational therapy assistants. 11 The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the employment for occupational therapists will increase 43% between 2012 and 2022. The estimate for the increase in all jobs is 29%.

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